Eyewear with chroma enhancement

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an optical filter configured to attenuate visible light in certain spectral bands. At least some of the spectral bands can include spectral features that tend to substantially increase the colorfulness, clarity, and/or vividness of a scene. In certain embodiments, eyewear incorporates an optical filter that enhances chroma within one or more spectral bands. In some embodiments, a wearer of the eyewear can perceive the increase in chroma when viewing at least certain types of scenes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/852,235, filed Sep. 11, 2015, titled EYEWEAR WITH CHROMA ENHANCEMENT,which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/656,114, filedOct. 19, 2012, titled EYEWEAR WITH CHROMA ENHANCEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No.9,134,547, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/549,711, filed Oct. 20, 2011,titled EYEWEAR WITH CHROMA ENHANCEMENT, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/645,543, filed May 10, 2012, titled EYEWEAR WITHLAMINATED FUNCTIONAL LAYERS. U.S. application Ser. No. 14/852,235, filedSep. 11, 2015, titled EYEWEAR WITH CHROMA ENHANCEMENT, is also acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/289,447, filed May28, 2014, titled EYEWEAR WITH CHROMA ENHANCEMENT, now U.S. Pat. No.9,383,594, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/029,997, filed Feb. 17, 2011, titled EYEWEAR WITH CHROMA ENHANCEMENT,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,770,749, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/425,707, filed Dec.21, 2010, titled EYEWEAR AND LENSES WITH CHROMA ENHANCING FILTER, andU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/324,706, filed Apr. 15, 2010,titled EYEWEAR AND LENSES WITH CHROMA ENHANCING FILTER. The entirecontents of each of these applications are incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND Field

This disclosure relates generally to eyewear and more particularly tolenses used in eyewear.

Description of Related Art

Eyewear can include optical elements that attenuate light in one or morewavelength bands. For example, sunglasses typically include a lens thatabsorbs a significant portion of light in the visible spectrum. Asunglass lens can have a dark film or coating that strongly absorbsvisible light, thereby significantly decreasing the luminoustransmittance of the lens. A lens can also be designed to have aspectral profile for another purpose, such as, for example, for indooruse, for use in sporting activities, for another particular use, or fora combination of uses.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments described herein have several features, no singleone of which is indispensible or solely responsible for their desirableattributes. Without limiting the scope of the claims, some of theadvantageous features will now be summarized.

Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an opticalfilter within and/or outside of the lens body configured to attenuatevisible light in a plurality of spectral bands. In some embodiments inwhich the optical filter is within the lens body, the optical filter canconstitute the lens body, or the optical filter and additionalcomponents can constitute the lens body. The optical filter can beconfigured to substantially increase the colorfulness, clarity, and/orvividness of a scene. The optical filter can be particularly suited foruse with eyewear and can allow the wearer of the eyewear to view a scenein high definition color (HD color). Each of the plurality of spectralbands can include an absorptance peak with a spectral bandwidth, amaximum absorptance, and an integrated absorptance peak area within thespectral bandwidth. The spectral bandwidth can be defined as the fullwidth of the absorptance peak at 80% of the maximum absorptance of theabsorptance peak, the full width of the absorptance peak at 90% of themaximum absorptance of the absorptance peak, or the full width of theabsorptance peak at 95% of the maximum absorptance of the absorptancepeak. Many other suitable definitions are possible. In some embodiments,an attenuation factor obtained by dividing the integrated absorptancepeak area within the spectral bandwidth by the spectral bandwidth of theabsorptance peak can be greater than or equal to about 0.8 for theabsorptance peak in at least some of the plurality of spectral bands. Insome embodiments, the spectral bandwidth of the absorptance peak in eachof the plurality of spectral bands can be greater than or equal to about20 nm.

In certain embodiments, the optical filter is at least partiallyincorporated into the lens body. The lens body can be impregnated with,loaded with, or otherwise comprise one or more organic dyes. Each of theone or more organic dyes can be configured to produce the absorptancepeak in one of the plurality of spectral bands. In some embodiments, theoptical filter is at least partially incorporated into a lens coatingdisposed over the lens body.

Some embodiments provide a method of manufacturing a lens. The methodcan include forming a lens having an optical filter configured toattenuate visible light in a plurality of spectral bands. Each of theplurality of spectral bands can include an absorptance peak with aspectral bandwidth, a maximum absorptance, and an integrated absorptancepeak area within the spectral bandwidth. The spectral bandwidth can bedefined as the full width of the absorptance peak at 80% of the maximumabsorptance of the absorptance peak. An attenuation factor of theabsorptance peak in each of the plurality of spectral bands can begreater than or equal to about 0.8 and less than 1. The attenuationfactor of an absorptance peak can be obtained by dividing the integratedabsorptance peak area within the spectral bandwidth by the spectralbandwidth of the absorptance peak.

In certain embodiments, a lens can be formed by forming a lens body andforming a lens coating over the lens body. At least a portion of theoptical filter can be incorporated into the lens body. At least aportion of the optical filter can be incorporated into the lens coating.The lens coating can include an interference coating.

In some embodiments, a lens body can be formed by a method includingforming a plurality of lens body elements and coupling the lens bodyelements to one another using one or more adhering layers. A polarizingfilm can be disposed between two of the plurality of lens body elements.In some embodiments, the polarizing film can be insert molded within thelens body.

Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an opticalfilter characterized by a spectral absorptance profile including aplurality of absorptance peaks. Each of the plurality of absorptancepeaks can have a maximum absorptance, a peak location at the wavelengthat which the absorptance peak exhibits maximum absorptance, a spectralbandwidth defined as the full width of the absorptance peak at 80% ofthe maximum absorptance of the absorptance peak, and a center wavelengthlocated at a midpoint of the spectral bandwidth of the absorptance peak.The plurality of absorptance peaks can include a first absorptance peakhaving a center wavelength and/or peak location between about 558 nm andabout 580 nm and a second absorptance peak having a center wavelengthand/or peak location between about 445 nm and about 480 nm. The spectralbandwidth of each of the plurality of absorptance peaks can be betweenabout 20 nm and about 50 nm.

In some embodiments, the plurality of absorptance peaks can include afirst absorptance peak having a center wavelength and/or peak locationbetween about 560 nm and about 600 nm and a second absorptance peakhaving a center wavelength and/or peak location between about 450 nm andabout 490 nm. The spectral bandwidth of each of the plurality ofabsorptance peaks can be between about 15 nm and about 50 nm.

Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an opticalfilter characterized by a spectral absorbance profile including aplurality of absorbance peaks. Each of the plurality of absorbance peakscan have a maximum absorbance, a peak location at the wavelength atwhich the absorbance peak exhibits maximum absorbance, a spectralbandwidth defined as the full width of the absorbance peak at 80% of themaximum absorbance of the absorbance peak, and a center wavelengthlocated at a midpoint of the spectral bandwidth of the absorbance peak.The plurality of absorbance peaks can include a first absorbance peakhaving a center wavelength and/or peak location between about 558 nm andabout 580 nm and a second absorbance peak having a center wavelengthand/or peak location between about 445 nm and about 480 nm. The spectralbandwidth of each of the plurality of absorbance peaks can be betweenabout 20 nm and about 50 nm.

In some embodiments, the plurality of absorbance peaks can include afirst absorbance peak having a center wavelength and/or peak locationbetween about 560 nm and about 600 nm and a second absorbance peakhaving a center wavelength and/or peak location between about 450 nm andabout 490 nm. The spectral bandwidth of each of the plurality ofabsorbance peaks can be between about 15 nm and about 50 nm.

In certain embodiments, each of the first absorptance peak and thesecond absorptance peak has an integrated absorptance peak area withinthe spectral bandwidth and an attenuation factor obtained by dividingthe integrated absorptance peak area by the spectral bandwidth of theabsorptance peak. The attenuation factor of each of the firstabsorptance peak and the second absorptance peak can be greater than orequal to about 0.8.

The plurality of absorptance peaks can include a third absorptance peakconfigured to substantially attenuate light at least between about 405nm and about 425 nm and a fourth absorptance peak configured tosubstantially attenuate light at least between about 650 nm and about670 nm, between about 705 nm and about 725 nm, or between about 700 nmand about 720 nm. In another embodiment, the third absorptance peak isconfigured to substantially attenuate light at least between about 400nm and about 420 nm. Each of the third absorptance peak and the fourthabsorptance peak can have an integrated absorptance peak area within thespectral bandwidth and an attenuation factor obtained by dividing theintegrated absorptance peak area by the spectral bandwidth of theabsorptance peak. The attenuation factor of each of the thirdabsorptance peak and the fourth absorptance peak can be greater than orequal to about 0.8.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of absorptance peaks can include athird absorptance peak configured to substantially attenuate light atleast between about 650 nm and about 670 nm. The third absorptance peakcan have an integrated absorptance peak area within the spectralbandwidth and an attenuation factor obtained by dividing the integratedabsorptance peak area by the spectral bandwidth of the absorptance peak.The attenuation factor of each of the third absorptance peak can begreater than or equal to about 0.8.

Some embodiments provide a lens that includes a lens body with anoptical filter configured to increase the average chroma value of lighttransmitted through the lens within one or more portions of the visiblespectrum. The chroma value is the C* attribute of the CIE L*C*h* colorspace. At least one portion of the visible spectrum can include aspectral range of about 630 nm to about 660 nm. The increase in averagechroma value can include an increase that is perceivable by a human withsubstantially normal vision.

In certain embodiments, the optical filter is configured to increase theaverage chroma value of light transmitted through the lens within aspectral range of about 540 nm to about 600 nm by a relative magnitudeof greater than or equal to about 3% compared to the average chromavalue of light transmitted through a neutral filter within the samespectral range.

The optical filter can be configured to increase the average chromavalue of light transmitted through the lens within a spectral range ofabout 440 nm to about 480 nm by a relative magnitude of greater than orequal to about 15% compared to the average chroma value of lighttransmitted through a neutral filter within the same spectral range.

In some embodiments, the optical filter does not substantially decreasethe average chroma value of light transmitted through the lens withinthe one or more portions of the visible spectrum when compared to theaverage chroma value of light transmitted through a neutral filter. Incertain embodiments, the optical filter does not substantially decreasethe average chroma value of light transmitted through the lens within aspectral range of about 440 nm to about 660 nm when compared to theaverage chroma value of light transmitted through a neutral filter.

The optical filter can be configured to increase the average chromavalue of light transmitted through the lens within a spectral range ofabout 630 to about 660 nm by a relative magnitude of greater than orequal to about 3% compared to the average chroma value of lighttransmitted through a neutral filter within the same spectral range.

The optical filter can be at least partially incorporated into the lensbody. For example, the lens body can be loaded with a plurality oforganic dyes, each of the plurality of organic dyes configured toincrease the average chroma value of light transmitted through the lenswithin one or more portions of the visible spectrum.

In some embodiments, the optical filter is at least partiallyincorporated into a lens coating disposed over at least a portion of thelens body. For example, the optical filter can include an interferencecoating.

In some embodiments, the optical filter can be at least partiallyincorporated into an adhering layer, a polarizing layer, or acombination of the adhering layer and the polarizing layer.

Certain embodiments provide a method of manufacturing a lens, the methodincluding forming a lens including an optical filter configured toincrease the average chroma value of light transmitted through the lenswithin one or more portions of the visible spectrum. At least oneportion of the visible spectrum can include a spectral range of about630 nm to about 660 nm. The increase in average chroma value can includean increase that is perceivable by a human with substantially normalvision.

The step of forming a lens can include forming a lens body and forming alens coating over the lens body. At least a portion of the opticalfilter can be incorporated into the lens body. At least a portion of theoptical filter can be incorporated into the lens coating. For example,the lens coating can include an interference coating.

The step of forming a lens body can include forming a plurality of lensbody elements and coupling the lens body elements to one another usingone or more adhering layers. A polarizing film can be disposed betweentwo of the plurality of lens body elements. The lens can include one ormore components that substantially absorb ultraviolet radiation,including near ultraviolet radiation. In some embodiments, thepolarizing film can be insert molded into the lens body.

Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an opticalfilter configured to increase the average chroma value of lighttransmitted through the lens within one or more portions of the visiblespectrum. One of the one or more portions of the visible spectrum caninclude a spectral range of about 540 nm to about 600 nm. The increasein average chroma value can include an increase that is perceivable by ahuman with substantially normal vision.

Certain embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an opticalfilter configured to increase the average chroma value of lighttransmitted through the lens within one or more portions of the visiblespectrum. Three of the one or more portions of the visible spectrum caninclude a spectral range of about 440 nm to about 510 nm, a spectralrange of about 540 nm to about 600 nm, and a spectral range of about 630nm to about 660 nm. The increase in average chroma value can include anincrease that is perceivable by a human with substantially normalvision.

Some embodiments provide a lens for eyewear including a lens body and anoptical filter including a plurality of organic dyes. Each of theplurality of organic dyes is configured to attenuate visible light inone or more spectral bands. Each of the one or more spectral bandsincludes an absorptance peak with a spectral bandwidth, a maximumabsorptance, and an integrated absorptance peak area within the spectralbandwidth. The spectral bandwidth can be defined as the full width ofthe absorptance peak at 80% of the maximum absorptance of theabsorptance peak. The attenuation factor of an absorptance peak can beobtained by dividing the integrated absorptance peak area within thespectral bandwidth by the spectral bandwidth of the absorptance peak.For one or more of the plurality of organic dyes, the attenuation factorof at least one absorptance peak is greater than or equal to about 0.8.

For example, one or more of the plurality of organic dyes can include anabsorptance profile having a blue light absorptance peak with a centerwavelength and/or peak location between about 470 nm and about 480 nm.In some embodiments, the spectral bandwidth of the blue lightabsorptance peak can be greater than or equal to about 20 nm, and theattenuation factor of the blue light absorptance peak can be greaterthan or equal to about 0.9.

One or more of the plurality of organic dyes can include an absorptanceprofile having a yellow light or yellow-green light absorptance peakwith a center wavelength and/or peak location between about 560 nm andabout 580 nm. In some embodiments, the spectral bandwidth of the yellowlight or yellow-green light absorptance peak can be greater than orequal to about 20 nm, and the attenuation factor of the yellow light oryellow-green light absorptance peak can be greater than or equal toabout 0.85.

One or more of the plurality of organic dyes can include an absorptanceprofile having a red light or orange-red light absorptance peak with acenter wavelength and/or peak location between about 600 nm and about680 nm. In some embodiments, the spectral bandwidth of the red light ororange-red light absorptance peak can be greater than or equal to about20 nm, and the attenuation factor of the red light absorptance peak isgreater than or equal to about 0.9.

Each of the plurality of organic dyes can be selected to increase thechroma value of light transmitted through the lens in one or more chromaenhancement windows. The one or more chroma enhancement windows caninclude a first spectral range of about 440 nm to about 510 nm, a secondspectral range of about 540 nm to about 600 nm, a third spectral rangeof about 630 nm to about 660 nm, or any combination of the first,second, and third spectral ranges.

Certain embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an opticalfilter configured to attenuate visible light in a plurality of spectralbands. Each of the plurality of spectral bands includes an absorptancepeak with a spectral bandwidth, a maximum absorptance, lower and upperedge portions that are substantially below the maximum absorptance, anda middle portion positioned between the lower and upper edge portionsand including the maximum absorptance and a region substantially nearthe maximum absorptance. In some embodiments, one of the lower or upperedge portions of at least one absorptance peak lies within an objectspectral window including a spectral region in which the object emits orreflects a substantial visible stimulus.

The optical filter can be configured such that one of the lower or upperedge portions of at least one absorptance peak lies within a backgroundspectral window. The background spectral window includes a spectralregion in which the background emits or reflects a substantial visiblestimulus.

The optical filter can be at least partially incorporated into the lensbody. The lens body can be impregnated with a plurality of organic dyes,each of the plurality of organic dyes configured to produce theabsorptance peak in one of the plurality of spectral bands.

The optical filter can be at least partially incorporated into a lenscoating disposed over at least a portion of the lens body. For example,the optical filter can include an interference coating. The opticalfilter can also be at least partially incorporated into an adheringlayer, a polarizing layer, or a combination of the adhering layer andthe polarizing layer.

Some embodiments provide a method of manufacturing a lens, the methodincluding forming an optical filter configured to attenuate visiblelight in a plurality of spectral bands. Each of the plurality ofspectral bands including an absorptance peak with a spectral bandwidth,a maximum absorptance, lower and upper edge portions that aresubstantially below the maximum absorptance, and a middle portionpositioned between the lower and upper edge portions and including themaximum absorptance and a region substantially near the maximumabsorptance. One of the lower or upper edge portions of at least oneabsorptance peak can lie within an object spectral window including aspectral region in which the object emits or reflects a substantialvisible stimulus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are depicted in the accompanying drawings forillustrative purposes, and should in no way be interpreted as limitingthe scope of the inventions. In addition, various features of differentdisclosed embodiments can be combined to form additional embodiments,which are part of this disclosure. Any feature or structure can beremoved or omitted. Throughout the drawings, reference numbers can bereused to indicate correspondence between reference elements.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a pair of spectacles incorporatinglenses with a chroma-enhancing optical filter.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of one of the lenses shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a graph showing sensitivity curves for cone photoreceptorcells in the human eye.

FIG. 2B is a graph showing the 1931 CIE XYZ tristimulus functions.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of a sunglasslens with an optical filter.

FIG. 4A is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of a lenswith the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 3 compared to a neutralfilter.

FIG. 4B is a chromaticity diagram for the lens having the absorptanceprofile shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of an opticalfilter.

FIG. 6A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a filter with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 5 and of neutral filter.

FIG. 6B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of afilter with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 5 compared to aneutral filter.

FIG. 7 is a chromaticity diagram for an optical filter having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anotheroptical filter.

FIG. 9A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a filter with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 8 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 9B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of afilter with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 8 compared to aneutral filter.

FIG. 10 is a chromaticity diagram for an optical filter having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anotheroptical filter.

FIG. 12A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a filter with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 11 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 12B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of afilter with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 11 compared to aneutral filter.

FIG. 13 is a chromaticity diagram for an optical filter having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profiles of threedifferent optical filters.

FIG. 15A is a graph showing the chroma profiles of three filters, eachfilter with one of the absorptance profiles shown in FIG. 14, and of aneutral filter.

FIG. 15B is a graph showing the percentage differences in chroma of thethree different filters with the absorptance profiles shown in FIG. 14compared to a neutral filter.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profiles of threedifferent optical filters.

FIG. 17A is a graph showing the chroma profiles of three filters, eachfilter with one of the absorptance profiles shown in FIG. 16, and of aneutral filter.

FIG. 17B graph showing the percentage differences in chroma of the threedifferent filters with the absorptance profiles shown in FIG. 16compared to a neutral filter.

FIG. 18 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anotheroptical filter.

FIG. 19A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a filter with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 18 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 19B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of afilter with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 18 compared to aneutral filter.

FIG. 20 is a chromaticity diagram for an optical filter having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anotheroptical filter.

FIG. 22A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a filter with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 21 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 22B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of afilter with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 21 compared to aneutral filter.

FIG. 23 is a chromaticity diagram for an optical filter having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a graph showing the luminous efficiency profile of the humaneye.

FIG. 25 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anotheroptical filter.

FIG. 26A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a filter with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 25 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 26B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of afilter with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 25 compared to aneutral filter.

FIG. 27 is a chromaticity diagram for an optical filter having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 28 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anotheroptical filter.

FIG. 29A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a filter with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 28 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 29B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of afilter with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 28 compared to aneutral filter.

FIG. 30 is a chromaticity diagram for an optical filter having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anon-polarized lens with an example optical filter.

FIG. 32A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a non-polarized lenswith the spectral absorptance profile shown in FIG. 31 and of a neutralfilter.

FIG. 32B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of alens with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 31 compared to a neutralfilter.

FIG. 33 is a chromaticity diagram for the lens with the spectralabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 34 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anon-polarized lens with another example optical filter.

FIG. 35A is a graph showing the chroma profile of the lens with thespectral absorptance profile shown in FIG. 34 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 35B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of alens with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 34 compared to a neutralfilter.

FIG. 36 is a chromaticity diagram for the lens with the spectralabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 34.

FIG. 37 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anotheroptical filter.

FIG. 38A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a filter withabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 37 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 38B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of afilter with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 37 compared to aneutral filter.

FIG. 39 is a chromaticity diagram for the filter with the spectralabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 37.

FIG. 40 is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of a castlens with an optical filter.

FIG. 41A is a graph showing the chroma profile of a lens with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 40 and of a neutral filter.

FIG. 41B is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of alens with the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 40 compared to a neutralfilter.

FIG. 42 is a chromaticity diagram for the lens with the spectralabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 40.

FIGS. 43-48 illustrate example chroma enhancement window configurationsfor optical filters.

FIG. 49 illustrates a spectral power distribution representative of thelight reflected or emitted from a golf ball under outdoor illuminationconditions.

FIG. 50 is a graph showing the absorptance profile of a cast lens havingan optical filter with the absorptance profile of FIG. 40 and apolarizer having a substantially neutral gray tint.

FIG. 51 is a graph showing the percentage difference in chroma of a lenswith the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 50 compared to a neutralfilter.

FIG. 52 is a chromaticity diagram for the lens with the optical filtershown in FIG. 50.

FIG. 53 is a perspective view of a pair of spectacles incorporatinglenses with a chroma-enhancing optical filter with a cutaway view of oneof the lenses.

FIG. 54 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a lens having a lensbody and a laminate.

FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view of a lens mold.

FIG. 56 is a graph showing the absorbance profile of three injectionmolded lenses that were molded at different temperatures.

FIGS. 57 and 57A show a perspective view of eyewear with a portion cutaway to show an example configuration of lens elements.

FIGS. 58 and 58A show a perspective view of eyewear with a portion cutaway to show another example configuration of lens elements.

FIG. 59A is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of a dyeloaded into polycarbonate.

FIG. 59B is a graph showing an absorbance profile corresponding to theabsorptance profile of FIG. 59A.

FIG. 60A is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of a lensincorporating a chroma enhancement filter.

FIG. 60B is a graph showing an absorbance profile corresponding to theabsorptance profile of FIG. 60A.

FIG. 61A is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of anotherlens incorporating a chroma enhancement filter.

FIG. 61B is a graph showing an absorbance profile corresponding to theabsorptance profile of FIG. 61A.

FIG. 62A is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of a chromaenhancement filter.

FIG. 62B is a graph showing an absorbance profile corresponding to theabsorptance profile of FIG. 62A.

FIG. 63A is a graph showing the spectral absorptance profile of a lensincorporating the chroma enhancing chroma enhancement filter of FIG. 62Aand a polarizer.

FIG. 63B is a graph showing an absorbance profile corresponding to theabsorptance profile of FIG. 63A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although certain preferred embodiments and examples are disclosed below,inventive subject matter extends beyond the specifically disclosedembodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses, and tomodifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, the scope of the claimsappended hereto is not limited by any of the particular embodimentsdescribed below. For example, in any method or process disclosed herein,the acts or operations of the method or process can be performed in anysuitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particulardisclosed sequence. Various operations can be described as multiplediscrete operations in turn, in a manner that can be helpful inunderstanding certain embodiments; however, the order of descriptionshould not be construed to imply that these operations are orderdependent. Additionally, the structures described herein can be embodiedas integrated components or as separate components. For purposes ofcomparing various embodiments, certain aspects and advantages of theseembodiments are described. Not necessarily all such aspects oradvantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus, for example,various embodiments can be carried out in a manner that achieves oroptimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein withoutnecessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as can also be taughtor suggested herein.

Objects that humans can visually observe in the environment typicallyemit, reflect, or transmit visible light from one or more surfaces. Thesurfaces can be considered an array of points that the human eye isunable to resolve any more finely. Each point on the surfaces does notemit, reflect, or transmit a single wavelength of light; rather, itemits, reflects, or transmits a broad spectrum of wavelengths that areinterpreted as a single color in human vision. Generally speaking, ifone were to observe the corresponding “single wavelength” of light forthat interpreted color (for example, a visual stimulus having a verynarrow spectral bandwidth, such as 1 nm), it would appear extremelyvivid when compared to a color interpreted from a broad spectrum ofobserved wavelengths.

An optical filter can be configured to remove the outer portions of abroad visual stimulus to make colors appear more vivid as perceived inhuman vision. The outer portions of a broad visual stimulus refer towavelengths that, when substantially, nearly completely, or completelyattenuated, decrease the bandwidth of the stimulus such that thevividness of the perceived color is increased. An optical filter foreyewear can be configured to substantially increase the colorfulness,clarity, and/or vividness of a scene. Such an optical filter for eyewearcan allow the wearer to view the scene in high definition color (HDcolor). In some embodiments, portions of a visual stimulus that are notsubstantially attenuated include at least the wavelengths for which conephotoreceptor cells in the human eye have the greatest sensitivity. Incertain embodiments, the bandwidth of the color stimulus when theoptical filter is applied includes at least the wavelengths for whichthe cone photoreceptor cells have the greatest sensitivity. In someembodiments, a person wearing a lens incorporating an optical filterdisclosed herein can perceive a substantial increase in the clarity of ascene. The increase in perceived clarity can result, for example, fromincreased contrast, increased chroma, or a combination of factors.

The vividness of interpreted colors is correlated with an attributeknown as the chroma value of a color. The chroma value is one of theattributes or coordinates of the CIE L*C*h* color space. Together withattributes known as hue and lightness, the chroma can be used to definecolors that are perceivable in human vision. It has been determined thatvisual acuity is positively correlated with the chroma values of colorsin an image. In other words, the visual acuity of an observer is greaterwhen viewing a scene with high chroma value colors than when viewing thesame scene with lower chroma value colors.

An optical filter can be configured to enhance the chroma profile of ascene when the scene is viewed through a lens that incorporates theoptical filter. The optical filter can be configured to increase ordecrease chroma in one or more chroma enhancement windows in order toachieve any desired effect. The chroma-enhancing optical filter can beconfigured to preferentially transmit or attenuate light in any desiredchroma enhancement windows. Any suitable process can be used todetermine the desired chroma enhancement windows. For example, thecolors predominantly reflected or emitted in a selected environment canbe measured, and a filter can be adapted to provide chroma enhancementin one or more spectral regions corresponding to the colors that arepredominantly reflected or emitted.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, eyewear 100 includes lenses102 a, 102 b having a chroma-enhancing optical filter. Thechroma-enhancing filter generally changes the colorfulness of a sceneviewed through one or more lenses 102 a, 102 b, compared to a sceneviewed through a lens with the same luminous transmittance but adifferent spectral transmittance profile. The eyewear can be of anytype, including general-purpose eyewear, special-purpose eyewear,sunglasses, driving glasses, sporting glasses, indoor eyewear, outdooreyewear, vision-correcting eyewear, contrast-enhancing eyewear, eyeweardesigned for another purpose, or eyewear designed for a combination ofpurposes.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B, a lens 102 incorporatesseveral lens elements. The lens elements include a lens coating 202, afirst lens body element 204, a film layer 206, and a second lens bodyelement 208. Many variations in the configuration of the lens 102 arepossible. For example, the lens 102 can include a polarizing layer, oneor more adhesive layers, a photochromic layer, an antireflectioncoating, a mirror coating, an interference coating, a scratch resistantcoating, a hydrophobic coating, an anti-static coating, other lenselements, or a combination of lens components. If the lens 102 includesa photochromic layer, the photochromic material can include a neutraldensity photochromic or any other suitable photochromic. At least someof the lens components and/or materials can be selected such that theyhave a substantially neutral visible light spectral profile.Alternatively, the visible light spectral profiles can cooperate toachieve any desired lens chromaticity, a chroma-enhancing effect,another goal, or any combination of goals. The polarizing layer, thephotochromic layer, and/or other functional layers can be incorporatedinto the film layer 206, the lens coating 202, one or more of the lensbody elements 204, 208, or can be incorporated into additional lenselements. In some embodiments, a lens 102 incorporates fewer than allthe lens elements shown in FIG. 1B.

The lens can include a UV absorption layer or a layer that includes UVabsorption outside of the optical filter layer. Such a layer candecrease bleaching of the optical filter. In addition, UV absorbingagents can be disposed in any lens component or combination of lenscomponents.

The lens body elements 204, 208 can be made from glass, a polymericmaterial, a co-polymer, a doped material, another material, or acombination of materials. In some embodiments, one or more portions ofthe optical filter can be incorporated into the lens coating 202, intoone or more lens body elements 204, 208, into a film layer 206, into anadhesive layer, into a polarizing layer, into another lens element, orinto a combination of elements.

The lens body elements 204, 208 can be manufactured by any suitabletechnique, such as, for example, casting or injection molding. Injectionmolding can expose a lens to temperatures that degrade or decomposecertain dyes. Thus, when the optical filter is included in one or morelens body elements, a wider range of dyes can be selected for inclusionin the optical filter when the lens body elements are made by castingthan when the lens body is made by injection molding. Further, a widerrange of dyes or other optical filter structures can be available whenthe optical filter is implemented at least partially in a lens coating.

A sunglass lens substantially attenuates light in the visible spectralregion. However, the light need not be attenuated uniformly or evengenerally evenly across the visible spectrum. Instead, the light that isattenuated can be tailored to achieve a specific chroma-enhancingprofile or another goal. A sunglass lens can be configured to attenuatelight in spectral bands that are selected such that the scene receivesone or more of the improvements or characteristics disclosed herein.Such improvements or characteristics can be selected to benefit thewearer during one or more particular activities or in one or morespecific environments.

To design a filter that increases chroma for an array of colors, one canaccount for the mechanisms involved in the eye's perception of color.The photopically adapted eye (e.g., the human eye) shows peaksensitivities at 440, 545, and 565 nm. These peak sensitivitiescorrespond to each of three optical sensors found in the eye's retinaknown as cones. The location and shape of the cone sensitivity profileshave recently been measured with substantial accuracy in Stockman andSharpe, “The spectral sensitivities of the middle- andlong-wavelength-sensitive cones derived from measurements in observersof known genotype,” Vision Research 40 (2000), pp. 1711-1737, which isincorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.The sensitivity profiles S, M, L for cone photoreceptor cells in thehuman eye as measured by Stockman and Sharpe are shown in FIG. 2A.

The cone sensitivity profiles can be converted from sensitivity data toquantities describing color such as, for example, the CIE tristimuluscolor values. The 1931 CIE XYZ tristimulus functions are shown in FIG.2B. In some embodiments, the CIE tristimulus color values are used todesign an optical filter. For example, the CIE color values can be usedto calculate the effect of an optical filter on perceived color usingvalues of chroma, C*, in the CIE L*C*h* color space.

The human cone sensitivities can be converted to the 1931 CIE XYZ colorspace using the linear transformation matrix M described in Golz andMacleod, “Colorimetry for CRT displays,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A vol. 20, no.5 (May 2003), pp. 769-781, which is incorporated by reference herein andmade a part of this specification. The linear transformation is shown inEq. 1:

$\begin{matrix}{M = {{\begin{bmatrix}0.17156 & 0.52901 & 0.02199 \\0.15955 & 0.48553 & 0.04298 \\0.01916 & 0.03989 & 1.03993\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}L \\M \\S\end{bmatrix}} = {M\begin{bmatrix}X \\Y \\Z\end{bmatrix}}}} & ( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 1} )\end{matrix}$

To solve for the 1931 CIE XYZ color space values (X Y Z), the Stockmanand Sharpe 2000 data can be scaled by factors of 0.628, 0.42, and 1.868for L, M, and S cone sensitivities, respectively, and multiplied by theinverse of the linear transformation matrix M in the manner shown inEqs. 2-1 and 2-2:

$\begin{matrix}{{\begin{bmatrix}X \\Y \\Z\end{bmatrix} = {M^{- 1}\begin{bmatrix}L \\M \\S\end{bmatrix}}}{{where}\text{:}}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 2}\text{-}1} ) \\{M^{- 1} = \begin{bmatrix}2.89186 & {- 3.13517} & 0.19072 \\0.95178 & 1.02077 & {- 0.02206} \\{- 0.01677} & 0.09691 & 0.95724\end{bmatrix}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 2}\text{-}2} )\end{matrix}$

The CIE tristimulus values, X Y Z, can be converted to the 1976 CIEL*a*b* color space coordinates using the nonlinear equations shown inEqs. 3-1 through 3-7. Where λ_(n)=95.02, Y_(n)=100.00, and Z_(n)=108.82

$\begin{matrix}{L^{*} = {{116\sqrt[3]{Y/Y_{n}}} - 16}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3}\text{-}1} ) \\{a^{*} = {500\mspace{11mu} ( {\sqrt[3]{X/X_{n}} - \sqrt[3]{Y/Y_{n}}} )}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3}\text{-}2} ) \\{b^{*} = {200\mspace{11mu} ( {\sqrt[3]{Y/Y_{n}} - \sqrt[3]{Z/Z_{n}}} )}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3}\text{-}3} ) \\{{{if}\mspace{14mu} {X/X_{n}}},{Y/Y_{n}},{{{or}\mspace{14mu} {Z/Z_{n}}} < 0.008856}\;,{{then}\text{:}}} & \; \\{L^{*} = {903.3\mspace{11mu} ( {Y/Y_{n}} )}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3}\text{-}4} ) \\{a^{*} = {500\;\lbrack {{f( {X/X_{n}} )} - {f( {Y/Y_{n}} )}} \rbrack}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3}\text{-}5} ) \\{b^{*} = {200\;\lbrack {{f( {Y/Y_{n}} )} - {f( {Z/Z_{n}} )}} \rbrack}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3}\text{-}6} ) \\{{{{{For}\mspace{14mu} \alpha} > 0.008856}\;;{\alpha = {X/X_{n}}}},{Y/Y_{n}},{{or}\mspace{14mu} {Z/Z_{n}}}} & \; \\{{f(\alpha)} = \sqrt[3]{\alpha}} & \; \\{{Otherwise}\text{:}} & \; \\{{f(\alpha)} = {{7.87\alpha} + {16/116}}} & ( {{{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3}\text{-}7} ) \\{{Chroma}\mspace{14mu} {or}\mspace{14mu} C^{*}\mspace{14mu} {can}\mspace{14mu} {be}\mspace{14mu} {then}\mspace{14mu} {be}\mspace{14mu} {calculated}\mspace{14mu} {by}\mspace{14mu} {further}\mspace{14mu} {conversion}\mspace{14mu} {from}\mspace{14mu} {CIE}\mspace{14mu} L^{*}a^{*}b^{*}\mspace{14mu} {to}\mspace{14mu} {CIE}\mspace{14mu} L^{*}C^{*}h^{*}\mspace{14mu} {using}\mspace{14mu} {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 4}\text{:}} & \; \\{C^{*} = \sqrt{a^{*2} + b^{*2}}} & ( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 4} )\end{matrix}$

As mentioned above, the colors observed in the physical world arestimulated by wide bands of wavelengths. To simulate this and thencalculate the effects of an optical filter, filtered and non-filteredbands of light are used as input to the cone sensitivity space. Theeffect on chroma can then be predicted via the transformations listedabove.

When inputting a spectrum of light to the cone sensitivity space, themechanism of color recognition in the human eye can be accounted for.Color response by the eye is accomplished by comparing the relativesignals of each of the three cones types: S, M, and L. To model thiswith broad band light, a sum of the intensities at each wavelength inthe input spectrum is weighted according to the cone sensitivity at thatwavelength. This is repeated for all three cone sensitivity profiles. Anexample of this calculation is shown in Table A:

TABLE A Input light Wavelength intensity, L Cone L Weighted λ (nm)arbitrary units Sensitivity light intensity 500 0.12 × 0.27 = 0.032 5010.14 × 0.28 = 0.039 502 0.16 × 0.31 = 0.05 503 0.17 × 0.33 = 0.056 5040.25 × 0.36 = 0.09 505 0.41 × 0.37 = 0.152 506 0.55 × 0.39 = 0.215 5070.64 × 0.41 = 0.262 508 0.75 × 0.42 = 0.315 509 0.63 × 0.44 = 0.277 5100.54 × 0.46 = 0.248 511 0.43 × 0.48 = 0.206 512 0.25 × 0.49 = 0.123 5130.21 × 0.50 = 0.105 514 0.18 × 0.51 = 0.092 515 0.16 × 0.52 = 0.083 5160.15 × 0.54 = 0.081 517 0.13 × 0.56 = 0.073 518 0.11 × 0.57 = 0.063Total weighted 519 0.09 × 0.59 = 0.053 light intensity, 520 0.08 × 0.61= 0.049 normalized Sum 6.15 2.664 0.433

Normalized weighted light intensities for all three cone types can thenbe converted to the 1931 CIE XYZ color space via a linear transformationmatrix, M. This conversion facilitates further conversion to the 1976CIE L*a*b* color space and the subsequent conversion to the CIE L*C*hcolor space to yield chroma values.

To simulate the effect of a filter placed between the eye and thephysical world, an input band of light can be modified according to aprospective filter's absorption characteristics. The weighted lightintensity is then normalized according to the total sum of light that istransmitted through the filter.

In certain embodiments, to test the effect of a filter on various colorsof light, the spectral profile, or at least the bandwidth, of an inputis determined first. The appropriate bandwidth for the model's input istypically affected by the environment of use for the optical filter. Areasonable bandwidth for a sunglass lens can be about 30 nm, since thisbandwidth represents the approximate bandwidth of many colors perceivedin the natural environment. Additionally, 30 nm is a narrow enoughbandwidth to permit transmitted light to fall within responsive portionsof the cone sensitivity functions, which are approximately twice thisbandwidth. A filter designed using a 30 nm input bandwidth will alsoimprove the chroma of colors having other bandwidths, such as 20 nm or80 nm. Thus, the effect of a filter on chroma can be determined usingcolor inputs having a 30 nm bandwidth or another suitable bandwidth thatis sensitive to a wide range of natural color bandwidths.

Other bandwidths are possible. The bandwidth can be significantlywidened or narrowed from 30 nm while preserving the chroma-enhancingproperties of many filter designs. The 30 nm bandwidth described aboveis representative of wider or narrower input bandwidths that can be usedto produce desired features of an optical filter. The term “bandwidth”is used herein in its broad and ordinary sense. This disclosure setsforth several techniques for characterizing the bandwidth of a spectralfeature. Unless otherwise specified, any suitable bandwidthcharacterization disclosed herein can be applied to define the spectralfeatures identified in this specification. For example, in someembodiments, the bandwidth of a peak encompasses the full width of apeak at half of the peak's maximum value (FWHM value) and any othercommonly used measurements of bandwidth.

A sample calculation of the normalized L weighted light intensity usingthe 30 nm bandwidth and an example filter is shown in Table B:

TABLE B Incoming light Filtered Wavelength intensity Filter L Cone Lweighted λ (nm) arbitrary units T % Sensitivity light intensity 499 0 ×0.12 × 0.25 = 0.00 500 1 × 0.34 × 0.27 = 0.09 501 1 × 0.41 × 0.28 = 0.11502 1 × 0.42 × 0.31 = 0.13 503 1 × 0.44 × 0.33 = 0.15 504 1 × 0.51 ×0.36 = 0.18 505 1 × 0.55 × 0.37 = 0.20 506 1 × 0.61 × 0.39 = 0.24 507 1× 0.78 × 0.41 = 0.32 508 1 × 0.75 × 0.42 = 0.32 509 1 × 0.85 × 0.44 =0.37 510 1 × 0.87 × 0.46 = 0.40 511 1 × 0.91 × 0.48 = 0.44 512 1 × 0.95× 0.49 = 0.47 513 1 × 0.96 × 0.50 = 0.48 514 1 × 0.97 × 0.51 = 0.49 5151 × 0.96 × 0.52 = 0.50 516 1 × 0.98 × 0.54 = 0.53 517 1 × 0.76 × 0.56 =0.43 518 1 × 0.75 × 0.57 = 0.43 519 1 × 0.61 × 0.59 = 0.36 520 1 × 0.55× 0.61 = 0.34 521 1 × 0.48 × 0.72 = 0.35 522 1 × 0.42 × 0.78 = 0.33 5231 × 0.41 × 0.81 = 0.33 524 1 × 0.35 × 0.84 = 0.29 525 1 × 0.33 × 0.85 =0.28 526 1 × 0.31 × 0.88 = 0.27 527 1 × 0.28 × 0.87 = 0.24 528 1 × 0.27× 0.89 = 0.24 Total Filtered 529 1 × 0.22 × 0.91 = 0.20 L Weighted 530 0× 0.18 × 0.92 = 0.00 Light Intensity, 531 0 × 0.15 × 0.93 = 0.00Normalized Sum 30 18.4 9.51 0.52

In some embodiments, an optical filter is designed by using spectralprofiles of candidate filters to calculate the effect of the candidatefilters on chroma. In this way, changes in the filter can be iterativelychecked for their effectiveness in achieving a desired result.Alternatively, filters can be designed directly via numericalsimulation. Examples and comparative examples of optical filters and theeffects of those optical filters on chroma are described herein. In eachcase, the chroma of input light passing through each filter is comparedto the chroma of the same input without filtering. Plots of “absorptance%” against visible spectrum wavelengths show the spectral absorptanceprofile of the example or comparative example optical filter. Each plotof “chroma, C*, relative” against visible spectrum wavelengths shows therelative chroma of a 30 nm wide light stimulus of uniform intensityafter the stimulus passes through a wavelength-dependent optical filteras a thinner curve on the plot, with the center wavelength of eachstimulus being represented by the values on the horizontal axis. Eachplot of “chroma, C*, relative” also shows the relative chroma of thesame 30 nm wide light stimulus passing through a neutral filter thatattenuates the same average percentage of light within the bandwidth ofthe stimulus as the wavelength-dependent optical filter.

One goal of filter design can be to determine the overall colorappearance of a lens. In some embodiments, the perceived color ofoverall light transmitted from the lens is bronze, amber, violet, gray,or another color. In some cases, the consumer has preferences that aredifficult to account for quantitatively. In certain cases, lens coloradjustments can be accomplished within the model described in thisdisclosure. The impact of overall color adjustments to the filter designcan be calculated using a suitable model. In some cases, coloradjustments can be made with some, little, or no sacrifice to the chromacharacteristics being sought. In some embodiments, a lens has an overallcolor with a relatively low chroma value. For example, the lens can havea chroma value of less than 60. A chroma-increasing optical filter usedin such a lens can provide increased colorfulness for at least somecolors as compared to when the same optical filter is used in a lenswith an overall color having a higher chroma value.

A comparative example of an optical filter has properties as shown inFIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B. FIG. 3 shows the absorptance profile of acomparative example lens with an optical filter, the LAGOON 189-02 greylens available from Maui Jim, Inc. of Peoria, Ill. FIG. 4A shows apercentage difference in chroma between the output of a lens having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 3 and the output of a filter thatuniformly attenuates the same average percentage of light within eachstimulus band as the lens of FIG. 3, wherein the input is a 30 nmuniform intensity stimulus and the horizontal axis indicates the centerwavelength of each stimulus band. As can be seen in FIG. 4A, thecomparative example lens characterized by the absorptance profile shownin FIG. 3 provides some increase in chroma in certain spectral regionsand some decrease in chroma in other spectral regions, compared to afilter that provides neutral attenuation for each 30 nm stimulus. Theaverage percentage attenuation provided by the neutral attenuationfilter for each stimulus is the same as the average percentageattenuation provided by the comparative example filter. Specificbandwidths of light with uniform intensity were used to calculate therelative chroma profiles in this disclosure. In figures where therelative chroma profile of a filter is shown, the scale is maintainedconstant throughout this disclosure such that relative chroma shown inone figure can be compared to relative chroma shown in other figures,unless otherwise noted. In some figures, the chroma profile of a filtercan be clipped in order to show detail and maintain consistent scale.

In some embodiments, an optical filter is configured to increase ormaximize chroma in the blue to blue-green region of the visiblespectrum. A filter with such a configuration can have an absorptancepeak centered at about 478 nm or at about 480 nm, as shown in FIG. 5.The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the absorptance peak shown inFIG. 5 is about 20 nm. However, other absorptance peak widths can beused, including bandwidths greater than or equal to about 10 nm, greaterthan or equal to about 15 nm, greater than or equal to about 20 nm, lessthan or equal to about 60 nm, less than or equal to about 50 nm, lessthan or equal to about 40 nm, between about 10 nm and about 60 nm, orbetween any of the other foregoing values. The bandwidth of anabsorptance peak can be measured in any suitable fashion in addition toor in place of FWHM. For example, the bandwidth of an absorptance peakcan include the full width of a peak at 80% of the maximum, the fullwidth of a peak at 90% of the maximum, the full width of a peak at 95%of the maximum, or the full width of a peak at 98% of the maximum.

The spectral features of an optical filter can also be evaluated byconsidering the transmittance profile of the filter and/or a lensincorporating the filter. In some embodiments, the bandwidth and/orattenuation factors of transmittance valleys can be measured. Thebandwidth of a transmittance valley can be defined, for example, as thefull width of the valley at a certain transmittance, such as 2%, 5%,10%, or 20%. In certain embodiments, the bandwidth of a transmittancevalley is defined as the full width of the valley at 1.5 times, twotimes, four times, ten times, or one hundred times the minimumtransmittance. In some embodiments, the bandwidth of a transmittancevalley is defined as the full width of the valley at a certain offsetfrom the minimum transmittance, such as, for example, the minimumtransmittance plus 1% transmittance, plus 2% transmittance, plus 5%transmittance, plus 10% transmittance, or plus 20% transmittance. Theattenuation factor of a transmittance valley can be calculated bydividing the area between 100% and the transmittance profile curve bythe bandwidth, within the spectral bandwidth of the transmittancevalley. Alternatively, the attenuation factor of a transmittance valleycan be calculating by finding the absorptance within the bandwidth bysubtracting the area under the transmittance curve from 1 and dividingthe result by the bandwidth.

The spectral features of an optical filter can also be evaluated byconsidering the absorbance profile of the filter and/or a lensincorporating the filter. In some embodiments, an optical filter isconfigured to increase or maximize chroma in the blue to blue-greenregion of the visible spectrum. A filter with such a configuration canhave an absorbance peak centered at about 478 nm or at about 480 nm, asshown in FIG. 5. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the absorbancepeak shown in FIG. 5 is about 20 nm. However, other absorbance peakwidths can be used, including bandwidths greater than or equal to about10 nm, greater than or equal to about 15 nm, greater than or equal toabout 20 nm, less than or equal to about 60 nm, less than or equal toabout 50 nm, less than or equal to about 40 nm, between about 10 nm andabout 60 nm, or between any of the other foregoing values. The bandwidthof an absorbance peak can be measured in any suitable fashion inaddition to or in place of FWHM. For example, the bandwidth of anabsorbance peak can include the full width of a peak at 80% of themaximum, the full width of a peak at 90% of the maximum, the full widthof a peak at 95% of the maximum, or the full width of a peak at 98% ofthe maximum.

FIG. 6A shows the relative chroma, as a function of wavelength, of afilter having the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 5. Once again, thethicker black line corresponds to the chroma profile of a neutral filterhaving the same integrated light transmittance within each 30 nmstimulus band as within each corresponding band of the optical filtershown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6B shows a percentage difference in chroma betweenthe output of the optical filter of FIG. 5 and the output of a filterthat uniformly attenuates the same average percentage of light withineach stimulus band as the optical filter of FIG. 5, wherein the input isa 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and the horizontal axis indicates thecenter wavelength of each stimulus band.

A CIE xy chromaticity diagram for the optical filter having anabsorptance profile as shown in FIG. 5 is provided in FIG. 7. Thechromaticity diagram shows the chromaticity of the filter as well as thegamut of an RGB color space. Each of the chromaticity diagrams providedin this disclosure shows the chromaticity of the associated filter orlens, where the chromaticity is calculated using CIE illuminant D65.

In certain embodiments, an optical filter is configured to increase ormaximize chroma in the blue region of the visible spectrum. A filterwith such a configuration can provide an absorptance peak with a centerwavelength and/or peak location at about 453 nm, at about 450 nm, orbetween about 445 nm and about 460 nm. The bandwidth of the absorptancepeak can be greater than or equal to about 10 nm, greater than or equalto about 15 nm, greater than or equal to about 20 nm, or anothersuitable value.

In some embodiments, an optical filter is configured to increase ormaximize chroma across several, many, or most colors, or at least manycolors that are commonly encountered in the environment of the wearer.Such an optical filter can include a plurality of absorptance peaks. Forexample, FIG. 8 shows a spectral absorptance profile of an embodiment ofan optical filter including four absorptance peaks with centerwavelengths at about 415 nm, about 478 nm, about 574 nm, and about 715nm. Relative chroma profiles and a chromaticity diagram for the examplefilter are shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 10. The relative chroma profileshown in FIG. 9A shows that the optical filter of FIG. 8 provides asubstantial increase in chroma in at least four spectral windowscompared to a neutral filter having the same integrated lighttransmittance within each 30 nm stimulus band as within eachcorresponding band of the optical filter shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9B showsa percentage difference in chroma between the output of the opticalfilter of FIG. 8 and the output of a filter that uniformly attenuatesthe same average percentage of light within each stimulus band as theoptical filter of FIG. 8, wherein the input is a 30 nm uniform intensitystimulus and the horizontal axis indicates the center wavelength of eachstimulus band.

Many other variations in the location and number of absorptance peaksare possible. For example, some embodiments significantly attenuatelight between about 558 nm and about 580 nm by providing a peak at about574 nm and adding an additional peak at about 561 nm. Such embodimentscan provide substantially greater chroma in the green region, includingat wavelengths near about 555 nm.

In certain embodiments, an optical filter increases chroma in thevisible spectrum by increasing the degree to which light within thebandwidth of each absorptance peak is attenuated. The degree of lightattenuation within the spectral bandwidth of an absorptance peak can becharacterized by an “attenuation factor” defined as the integratedabsorptance peak area within the spectral bandwidth of the absorptancepeak divided by the spectral bandwidth of the absorptance peak. Anexample of an absorptance peak with an attenuation factor of 1 is asquare wave. Such an absorptance peak attenuates substantially all lightwithin its spectral bandwidth and substantially no light outside itsspectral bandwidth. In contrast, an absorptance peak with an attenuationfactor of less than 0.5 attenuates less than half of the light withinits spectral bandwidth and can attenuate a significant amount of lightoutside its spectral bandwidth. It may not be possible to make anoptical filter having an absorptance peak with an attenuation factor ofexactly 1, although it is possible to design an optical filter having anabsorptance peak with an attenuation factor that is close to 1.

In certain embodiments, an optical filter is configured to have one ormore absorptance peaks with an attenuation factor close to 1. Many otherconfigurations are possible. In some embodiments, an optical filter hasone or more absorptance peaks (or transmittance valleys) with anattenuation factor greater than or equal to about 0.8, greater than orequal to about 0.9, greater than or equal to about 0.95, greater than orequal to about 0.98, between about 0.8 and about 0.99, greater than orequal to about 0.8 and less than 1, or between any of the otherforegoing values. Any combination of one or more of the foregoinglimitations on attenuation factor can be called “attenuation factorcriteria.” In certain embodiments, the attenuation factor of eachabsorptance peak in an optical filter meets one or more of theattenuation factor criteria. In some embodiments, the attenuation factorof each absorptance peak having a maximum absorptance over a certainabsorptance threshold in an optical filter meets one or more of theattenuation factor criteria. The absorptance threshold can be about 0.5,about 0.7, about 0.9, about 1, between 0.5 and 1, or another value. Itis understood that while certain spectral features are described hereinwith reference to an optical filter, each of the spectral features canequally apply to the spectral profile of a lens containing the opticalfilter, unless indicated otherwise.

In some embodiments, an optical filter has absorptance peaks in each offour spectral bands, each of which has an attenuation factor greaterthan or equal to about 0.95. Because it is rare to observe monochromaticlight in the physical world, some narrow bands of light can be nearly orcompletely blocked out without significant detriment to the overallvariety of perceived spectral colors in the natural world. In otherwords, the optical filter can be employed in everyday vision without theloss of any substantial visual information. A spectral absorptanceprofile of an example optical filter having these attributes is shown inFIG. 11. Relative chroma profiles and a chromaticity diagram for thesame optical filter are shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 13. The relativechroma profiles shown in FIG. 12A include the chroma profile of aneutral filter having the same integrated light transmittance withineach 30 nm stimulus band as within each corresponding band of theoptical filter shown in FIG. 8, indicated by a thicker black line, andthe chroma profile of the wavelength-dependent filter shown in FIG. 8,which is indicated by a thinner black line and is generally higher thanthe neutral filter profile. FIG. 12B shows a percentage difference inchroma between the output of the optical filter of FIG. 11 and theoutput of a filter that uniformly attenuates the same average percentageof light within each stimulus band as the optical filter of FIG. 11,wherein the input is a 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and thehorizontal axis indicates the center wavelength of each stimulus band.

In some embodiments, an optical filter has one or more absorptance peakswith a bandwidth that is at least partially within a chroma enhancementwindow. The width of the chroma enhancement window can be between about22 nm and about 45 nm, between about 20 nm and about 50 nm, greater thanor equal to about 20 nm, greater than or equal to about 15 nm, oranother suitable bandwidth range. In certain embodiments, an opticalfilter is configured such that every absorptance peak with anattenuation factor greater than or equal to an absorptance threshold hasa bandwidth within a chroma enhancement window. For example, thebandwidth of each of the absorptance peaks can be greater than or equalto about 10 nm, greater than or equal to about 15 nm, greater than orequal to about 20 nm, greater than or equal to about 22 nm, less than orequal to about 60 nm, less than or equal to about 50 nm, less than orequal to about 40 nm, between about 10 nm and about 60 nm, between about20 nm and about 45 nm, or between any of the other foregoing values.

Variations in the bandwidth (e.g., the FWHM value) and in the slopes ofthe sides of an absorptance peak can have marked effects on chroma.Generally, increases in the FWHM and/or slopes of the chroma-enhancingpeaks are accompanied by increases in chroma and vice-versa, in the caseof chroma-lowering peaks. In FIGS. 14 and 16, example optical filtersare shown where the FWHM and slopes of an absorptance peak areseparately varied. The effects of these variations on chroma are shownin the accompanying chroma profiles in FIGS. 15A-15B and 17A-17B. InFIG. 14, an overlay of absorptance peaks centered at 478 nm for threedifferent filters F1, F2, and F3 is shown. The absorptance peaks haveequal side slopes and varying FWHM values, with filter F1 having thelowest FWHM value and filter F3 having the highest FWHM value. Therelative chroma profile in FIG. 15A shows the effect of the filters F1,F2, and F3 shown in FIG. 14 on chroma. The absorptance and chromaprofiles of each of the filters F1, F2, and F3 are shown with the samecorresponding line style in each graph, with a neutral filter includedas a thick line in FIG. 15A. FIG. 15B shows a percentage difference inchroma between the output of the three optical filters F1, F2, and F3 ofFIG. 14 and the output of a filter that uniformly attenuates the sameaverage percentage of light within each stimulus band as the opticalfilters of FIG. 14, wherein the input in each case is the same 30 nmuniform intensity stimulus and the horizontal axis indicates the centerwavelength of each stimulus band.

FIG. 16 shows an overlay of three absorptance peaks centered at 478 nm,with equal FWHM and varying slopes. FIG. 17A shows the effect of thefilters F4, F5, and F6 shown in FIG. 16 on chroma, with a neutral filteragain included as a thick solid line. FIG. 17B shows a percentagedifference in chroma between the output of the three optical filters F4,F5, and F6 of FIG. 16 and the output of a filter that uniformlyattenuates the same average percentage of light within each stimulusband as the optical filters of FIG. 16, wherein the input in each caseis the same 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and the horizontal axisindicates the center wavelength of each stimulus band.

Returning to the optical filter shown in FIG. 11, the outer twoabsorptance peaks centered at 415 nm and 715 nm have outside slopes(i.e., at the lower limit of the 415 nm peak and at the upper limit ofthe 715 nm peak) that affect light wavelengths at generally the fringesof the visible spectrum. In some embodiments, the absorptance profilesof these peaks can be altered to significantly, mostly, or almostentirely attenuate light at wavelengths outside of about the 400 nm to700 nm range, which can be regarded as the dominant portion of thevisible range. The spectral absorptance profile of an example opticalfilter having these attributes is shown in FIG. 18. Relative chromaprofiles and the chromaticity diagram for the same optical filter areshown in FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 20. FIG. 19B shows a percentage differencein chroma between the output of the optical filter of FIG. 18 and theoutput of a filter that uniformly attenuates the same average percentageof light within each stimulus band as the optical filter of FIG. 18,wherein the input is a 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and thehorizontal axis indicates the center wavelength of each stimulus band.

By controlling chroma according to the techniques disclosed herein, thechroma of one or more color bands can also be decreased in situationswhere less colorfulness in those color bands is desired. In someembodiments, an optical filter can be configured to decrease chroma inone or more color bands and increase chroma in other color bands. Forexample, eyewear designed for use while hunting ducks can include one ormore lenses with an optical filter configured to lower the chroma of ablue background and increase the chroma for green and brown feathers ofa duck in flight. More generally, an optical filter can be designed tobe activity-specific by providing relatively lower chroma in one or morespectral regions associated with a specific background (e.g., theground, the sky, an athletic field or court, a combination, etc.) andproviding relatively high chroma in one or more spectral regionsassociated with a specific foreground or object (e.g., a ball).Alternatively, an optical filter can have an activity-specificconfiguration by providing increased chroma in both a backgroundspectral region and an object spectral region.

The ability to identify and discern moving objects is generally called“Dynamic Visual Acuity.” An increase in chroma in the spectral region ofthe moving object is expected to improve this quality because increasesin chroma are generally associated with higher color contrast.Furthermore, the emphasis and de-emphasis of specific colors can furtherimprove Dynamic Visual Acuity. A spectral absorptance profile of anexample optical filter configured to increase Dynamic Visual Acuity isshown in FIG. 21. The optical filter shown is configured to provide highchroma in the green to orange spectral region and relatively lowerchroma in the blue spectral region. The relative chroma profiles and thechromaticity diagram of the same optical filter are shown in FIGS. 22A,22B, and 23. FIG. 22B shows a percentage difference in chroma betweenthe output of the optical filter of FIG. 21 and the output of a filterthat uniformly attenuates the same average percentage of light withineach stimulus band as the optical filter of FIG. 21, wherein the inputis a 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and the horizontal axis indicatesthe center wavelength of each stimulus band.

In some embodiments, an optical filter is configured to account forvariation in luminous efficiency over the visible spectrum. Byaccounting for luminous efficiency, the filter can compensate fordifferences in relative sensitivities at different wavelengths of thehuman eye to various color bands can be compared. Luminous efficiencyover the visible spectrum, consistent with the Stockman and Sharpe conesensitivity data, is shown in FIG. 24.

In certain embodiments, an optical filter is configured to selectivelyincrease chroma in the red wavelengths at which the human eye is mostsensitive. For example, the red color band can be described as thespectral range extending between about 625 nm and about 700 nm. Whenlooking at the luminous efficiency function shown in FIG. 24, it isapparent that the eye is significantly more sensitive to red lightbetween about 625 nm and 660 nm than at longer wavelengths. Accordingly,a spectral absorptance profile of an optical filter with thisconfiguration is shown in FIG. 25. The optical filter has the sameprofile as the one shown in FIG. 11 except that it has an alternate peakin the red band centered at about 658 nm instead of a peak centered atabout 715 nm. The result is increased chroma over the red band up to 655nm with an accompanying decrease in chroma for red above 660 nm, wherethe eye is less sensitive. The relative chroma profiles and thechromaticity diagram for the same optical filter are shown in FIGS. 26A,26B, and 27. FIG. 26B shows a percentage difference in chroma betweenthe output of the optical filter of FIG. 25 and the output of a filterthat uniformly attenuates the same average percentage of light withineach stimulus band as the optical filter of FIG. 25, wherein the inputis a 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and the values along horizontalaxis indicate the center wavelength of each stimulus band.

Additionally, chroma can be increased for wavelengths in the middle ofthe green range using an absorptance peak centered at about 553 nm, atabout 561 nm, or at a wavelength between about 550 nm and about 570 nm.Such a filter can also decrease chroma of yellow colors, so it can beused in activities that benefit from identifying green objects that areviewed against a yellow background. A spectral absorptance profile foran optical filter that provides increased chroma for the middle of thegreen spectral range is shown in FIG. 28. The relative chroma profilesand the chromaticity diagram for the same optical filter are shown inFIGS. 29A, 29B, and 30, respectively. FIG. 29B shows a percentagedifference in chroma between the output of the optical filter of FIG. 28and the output of a filter that uniformly attenuates the same averagepercentage of light within each stimulus band as the optical filter ofFIG. 28, wherein the input is a 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and thehorizontal axis indicates the center wavelength of each stimulus band.

In order to fabricate the filter profiles shown above, a variety ofapproaches can be applied, such as through the use of dielectric stacks,multilayer interference coatings, rare earth oxide additives, organicdyes, or a combination of multiple polarization filters as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,054,902, the entire contents of which are incorporatedby reference herein and made a part of this specification. Anothersuitable fabrication technique or a combination of techniques can alsobe used.

In certain embodiments, an optical filter includes one or more organicdyes that provide absorptance peaks with a relatively high attenuationfactor. For example, in some embodiments, a lens has an optical filterincorporating organic dyes supplied by Exciton of Dayton, Ohio. At leastsome organic dyes supplied by Exciton are named according to theapproximate center wavelength and/or peak location of their absorptancepeak. An approximated spectral absorptance profile of a non-polarizedpolycarbonate lens with an optical filter incorporating Exciton ABS 407,ABS 473, ABS 574, and ABS 659 dyes is shown in FIG. 31. The organic dyeformulation of the optical filter provides absorptance peaks at about407 nm, 473 nm, 574 nm, and 659 nm. The relative chroma profiles and thechromaticity diagram of the lens are shown in FIGS. 32A, 32B, and 33,respectively. FIG. 32B shows a percentage difference in chroma betweenthe output of the optical filter of FIG. 31 and the output of a filterthat uniformly attenuates the same average percentage of light withineach stimulus band as the optical filter of FIG. 31, wherein the inputis a 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and the horizontal axis indicatesthe center wavelength of each stimulus band.

Some embodiments are similar to the embodiments described in theprevious paragraph, but include a red absorptance peak positioned at 647nm using Exciton ABS 647 dye instead of Exciton ABS 659 dye. In suchembodiments, the chroma for the higher luminous efficiency red hueslocated closer to the peak of the human eye's sensitivity is increased.The spectral absorptance profile of a non-polarized polycarbonate lenswith an optical filter in this configuration is shown in FIG. 34. Theprofile includes absorptance peaks at 407 nm, 473 nm, 574 nm, and 647nm. The relative chroma profiles and the chromaticity diagram of thelens are shown in FIGS. 35A, 35B, and 36, respectively. FIG. 35B shows apercentage difference in chroma between the output of the optical filterof FIG. 34 and the output of a filter that uniformly attenuates the sameaverage percentage of light within each stimulus band as the opticalfilter of FIG. 34, wherein the input is a 30 nm uniform intensitystimulus and the horizontal axis indicates the center wavelength of eachstimulus band.

In some embodiments, another optical filter is configured to increase ormaximize chroma across several, many, or most colors, or at least manycolors that are commonly encountered in the environment of the wearer.Such an optical filter can include a plurality of absorptance peaks. Theplurality of absorptance peaks can include an absorptance peak having acenter wavelength and/or peak location between about 415 nm and about455 nm, at about 478 nm, and between about 555 nm and 580 nm, and atabout 660 nm. The FWHM values of the plurality of absorptance peaks canbe between about 20 nm and about 50 nm, greater than about 20 nm, about22 nm, about 45 nm, another suitable value, or a combination of values.In some embodiments, the FWHM value of the absorptance peak with acenter wavelength and/or peak location between about 555 nm and about580 nm is about twice the FWHM value of at least some of the otherabsorptance peaks in the spectral profile. An approximated spectralabsorptance profile of an example filter having absorptance peaksreflected by the embodiments described in this paragraph is shown inFIG. 37. The example filter has a sharp drop in absorptance at about 490nm that permits substantial transmission of light at 491 nm and througha wide band (for example, through a spectral band greater than or equalto about 20 nm in bandwidth) in the neighborhood of 491 nm (for example,through a band of wavelengths near 491 nm and greater than or equal toabout 491 nm).

A relative chroma profile for a filter having the absorptance profile ofFIG. 37 is shown in FIG. 38A. The chroma profile of FIG. 38A is shownwith a vertical scale different from other chroma profiles in thisdisclosure in order to show larger variation in chroma. The examplefilter produces substantial increases in relative chroma over theunfiltered case in multiple spectral bands, including in spectral bandsbetween about 410 nm and about 460 nm, between about 465 nm and about475 nm, between about 480 nm and about 500 nm, between about 540 nm andabout 565 nm, between about 570 nm and 600 nm, and between about 630 nmand about 660 nm. FIG. 38B shows a percentage difference in chromabetween the output of the optical filter of FIG. 37 and the output of afilter that uniformly attenuates the same average percentage of lightwithin each stimulus band as the optical filter of FIG. 37, wherein theinput is a 30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and the horizontal axisindicates the center wavelength of each stimulus band. A chromaticitydiagram for this example filter is shown in FIG. 39.

In some embodiments, two or more dyes can be used to create a singleabsorptance peak or a plurality of absorptance peaks in close proximityto one another. For example, an absorptance peak with a centerwavelength and/or peak location positioned between about 555 nm andabout 580 nm can be creating using two dyes having center wavelengthsand/or peak locations at about 561 nm and 574 nm. In another embodiment,an absorptance peak with a center wavelength and/or peak locationpositioned between about 555 nm and about 580 nm can be creating usingtwo dyes having center wavelengths and/or peak locations at about 556 nmand 574 nm. While each dye can individually produce an absorptance peakhaving a FWHM value of less than about 30 nm, when the dyes are usedtogether in an optical filter, the absorptance peaks can combine to forma single absorptance peak with a bandwidth of about 45 nm or greaterthan or equal to about 40 nm.

Filters incorporating organic dyes can be fabricated using any suitabletechnique. In some embodiments, a sufficient quantity of one or moreorganic dyes is used to lower transmittance in one or more spectralregions to less than or equal to about 1%. To achieve peaktransmittances under 1% in 1.75 mm thick polycarbonate lenses, dyes canbe mixed into a batch of polycarbonate resin. If the mixture includes 5lbs of polycarbonate resin, the following loadings of Exciton dyes canbe used for the optical filter associated with the absorptance profileshown in FIG. 31: 44 mg of ABS 407, 122 mg of ABS 473, 117 mg of ABS574, and 63 mg of ABS 659. In the foregoing example, the ratios of dyeloadings in polycarbonate can be generalized as follows: out of 1000total units of dye, the filter could include about 130 units ofviolet-absorbing dye, about 350 units of blue-absorbing dye, about 340units of green-absorbing dye, and about 180 units of deep red-absorbingdye.

In the same quantity of polycarbonate resin, the following loadings ofExciton dyes can be used for the optical filter associated with theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 34: 44 mg of ABS 407, 122 mg of ABS473, 117 mg of ABS 574, and 41 mg of ABS 647. In the foregoing example,the ratios of dye loadings in polycarbonate can be generalized asfollows: out of 995 total units of dye, the filter could include about135 units of violet-absorbing dye, about 375 units of blue-absorbingdye, about 360 units of green-absorbing dye, and about 125 units ofred-absorbing dye. In certain embodiments, a lens can be created fromthe resin and dye mixture by a casting process, a molding process, orany other suitable process.

Other dyes for plastic exist that can also provide substantial increasesin chroma. For example, Crysta-Lyn Chemical Company of Binghamton, N.Y.offers DLS 402A dye, with an absorptance peak at 402 nm. In someembodiments, the DLS 402A dye can be used in place of the Exciton ABS407 dye in the formulations described above. Crysta-Lyn also offers DLS461B dye that provides an absorptance peak at 461 nm. DLS 461B dye canbe used in place of the Exciton ABS 473 dye in the formulationsdescribed above. Crysta-Lyn DLS 564B dye can be used in place of theExciton ABS 574 dye in those formulations, while Crysta-Lyn DLS 654B dyecan be used in place of Exciton ABS 659 dye. In some embodiments, thedye can be incorporated into one or more lens components, and thedecision regarding which lens components include the dye can be based onproperties, such as stability or performance factors, of each specificdye.

In another example, an optical filter is designed with relative amountsof certain dyes. The magnitude of absorptance peaks can be selected byadjusting the absolute mass loading of the dyes while maintaining therelative relationships between loadings of different dyes. For example,in a particular embodiment, an organic dye optical filter includes: 70mg of Exciton ABS 473 dye, 108 mg of Exciton ABS 561 dye, 27 mg ofExciton ABS 574 dye, and 41 mg of Exciton ABS 659. The ratios of dyeloadings in polyurethane can be generalized as follows: out of 1000total units of dye, the filter could include about 280 units ofblue-absorbing dye, about 440 units of yellow-green-absorbing dye, about110 units of green-absorbing dye, and about 170 units of deepred-absorbing dye. A lens was cast using the foregoing dye loadings in251 g of polyurethane. The resulting lens had a thickness of 1.9 mm.Loading levels can be adjusted to account for the characteristics of theparticular base material used. For example, the loading levels can besomewhat or slightly higher when using a material with a lower density,such as certain types of polycarbonate. Likewise, the loading levels canbe somewhat or slightly lower when a higher density material is used.

The absorptance profile of the cast lens is shown in FIG. 40. In theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 40, the absorptance peak centered atabout 477 nm has a full width at 80% of the maximum absorptance of theabsorptance peak of about 46 nm and an attenuation factor of about 0.92.The absorptance peak centered at about 569 nm has a full width at 80% ofthe maximum absorptance of the absorptance peak of about 35 nm and anattenuation factor of about 0.86. The absorptance peak centered at about660 nm has a full width at 80% of the maximum absorptance of theabsorptance peak of about 27 nm and an attenuation factor of about 0.91.The cast lens provided an increase in chroma in multiple spectralregions, as shown in FIGS. 41A and 41B. The chroma profile of FIG. 41Ais shown at a scale different from other chroma profiles in thisdisclosure. FIG. 41B shows a percentage difference in chroma between theoutput of the optical filter of FIG. 40 and the output of a filter thatuniformly attenuates the same average percentage of light within eachstimulus band as the optical filter of FIG. 40, wherein the input is a30 nm uniform intensity stimulus and the horizontal axis indicates thecenter wavelength of each stimulus band. A chromaticity diagram for thecast lens is shown in FIG. 42.

FIG. 50 illustrates the absorptance profile as a function of wavelengthof an optical filter of FIG. 40 combined with a light-grey polarizerfilm where the luminous transmittance using CIE standard illuminant D65is about 9.3%. Luminous transmittance can be measured with respect toany other suitable illuminant, such as, for example, CIE standardilluminant C. The luminous transmittance of a polarizing sunglass lensincorporating a chroma enhancement filter as disclosed herein can beless than or equal to about 15%, less than or equal to about 12%, lessthan or equal to about 10%, less than or equal to about 9%, greater thanor equal to about 7%, greater than or equal to about 8%, between about7%-15%, between about 7%-12%, between about 9%-12%, or another suitablevalue. Moreover, a lens can exhibit a heterogeneous transmittanceprofile having a combination of two or more transmittance regions havingdifferent transmittances. FIG. 51 shows a percentage difference inchroma between the output of a lens having the absorptance profile ofFIG. 50 and the output of a filter that uniformly attenuates the sameaverage percentage of light within each stimulus band as the lens withthe absorptance profile of FIG. 50, wherein the input is a 30 nm uniformintensity stimulus and the horizontal axis indicates the centerwavelength of each stimulus band. A chromaticity diagram for a lens withthe absorptance profile of FIG. 50 is shown in FIG. 52.

In some embodiments, one or more of the dyes used in any filtercomposition disclosed herein can be replaced by one or more dyes havingsimilar spectral attributes. For example, if a dye, such as the ExcitonABS 473 dye, is not sufficiently stable to endure the lens formationprocess, one or more substitute dyes with improved stability and asimilar absorptance profile can be used, instead. Some lens formationprocesses, such as injection molding, can subject the lens and opticalfilter to high temperatures, high pressures, and/or chemically activematerials. Replacement dyes can be selected to have similar absorptanceprofiles of the dyes disclosed herein but improved stability orperformance. For example, a replacement dye can exhibit high stabilityduring injection molding of the lens or high stability under sunlight.In one embodiment, at least one of two or more dyes can be used in placeof Exciton ABS 473 dye. In one embodiment, Exciton ABS 473 dye wasreplaced with a dye that has an absorptance peak with a centerwavelength and/or peak location of about 477 nm in polycarbonate. Insome embodiments, the attenuation factor associated with the 477 nmabsorptance peak is greater than or equal to about 0.8, greater than orequal to about 0.9, about 0.93, or another suitable value.

In some embodiments, a lens can include dyes or other materials that areselected or configured to increase the photostability of the chromaenhancing filter and other lens components. Any technique known in theart can be used to mitigate degradation of filter materials and/or otherlens components.

The relative quantities of any dye formulations disclosed herein can beadjusted to achieve a desired objective, such as, for example, a desiredoverall lens color, a chroma-enhancing filter having particularproperties, another objective, or a combination of objectives. Anoptical filter can be configured to have an absorptance profile with anycombination of the absorptance peaks disclosed herein and/or anycombination of other absorptance peaks in order to achieve desiredchroma-enhancing properties. The overall lens color can be selected suchthat it is similar to or the same as the stimulus of an object ofinterest or a background stimulus for a specific activity. By matchingthe color of the lens to an activity-specific stimulus, the contrast(such as, for example, color contrast) of the object of interest forthat activity can be increased.

As described above, FIG. 41 illustrates a chroma profile of a cast lenswith an optical filter compared to the chroma profile of a neutralfilter with the same average attenuation within each 30 nm stimulusband. The chroma profile of the cast lens is represented by the lighterline and is generally higher than the chroma profile of the neutralfilter, which is represented by the thicker line. The cast lens isconfigured to provide multiple spectral regions of increased chromacompared to the neutral filter. In some embodiments, a lens includes anoptical filter containing one or more organic dyes. The one or moreorganic dyes can increase or decrease chroma in one or more spectralregions. As shown in FIG. 41, an optical filter can be configured toincrease chroma in five or more spectral ranges. The spectral rangesover which an optical filter increases or decreases chroma can be calledchroma enhancement windows (CEWs).

In some embodiments, CEWs include portions of the visible spectrum inwhich an optical filter provides a substantial change in chroma comparedto a neutral filter having the same average attenuation within each 30nm stimulus band, as perceived by a person with normal vision. Incertain cases, a substantial enhancement of chroma can be seen when afilter provides a chroma increase greater than or equal to about 2%compared to the neutral filter. In other cases, a chroma increasegreater than or equal to about 3% or greater than or equal to about 5%compared to the neutral filter is considered a substantial increase.Whether a chroma change represents a substantial increase can depend onthe spectral region in which the increase is provided. For example, asubstantial chroma enhancement can include an increase in chroma greaterthan or equal to about 6% over a neutral filter when the visual stimulusis centered at about 560 nm. A substantial chroma enhancement caninclude an increase in chroma greater than or equal to about 3% over aneutral filter when the visual stimulus is centered at about 660 nm. Asubstantial chroma enhancement can include an increase in chroma greaterthan or equal to about 15% over a neutral filter when the visualstimulus is centered at about 570 nm. Accordingly, the amount of changein chroma relative to the neutral filter that is considered substantialcan differ depending on the spectral range of the CEW.

In certain embodiments, a substantial chroma enhancement is provided byan optical filter configured to increase chroma in one or more CEWs overa neutral filter without any significant decrease in chroma compared toa neutral filter within the one or more CEWs. A substantial chromaenhancement can also be provided by an optical filter configured toincrease chroma in one or more CEWs over a neutral filter without anysignificant decrease in chroma compared to a neutral filter within aparticular spectral range, such as, for example, between about 420 nmand about 650 nm.

FIGS. 43 through 48 illustrate various CEW configurations for a varietyof chroma-enhancing optical filters. The spectral ranges of the CEWs cancorrespond to the spectral regions where an optical filter exhibitssubstantially changed chroma compared to a neutral filter in one or moreof FIGS. 6, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, and 41. Theparticular CEW configurations disclosed here are non-limiting examplesthat illustrate the wide variety of lens or eyewear configurations thatexist.

One example of an optical filter CEW configuration is shown in FIG. 43.In this example, CEW₁ encompasses a spectral range of about 440 nm toabout 510 nm. CEW₂ encompasses a spectral range of about 540 nm to about600 nm. CEW₃ encompasses a spectral range of about 630 nm to about 660nm. Each CEW can be defined as a spectral range within which a lens oreyewear is configured to provide chroma enhancement. Alternatively, thelower end of one or more CEWs can encompass a wavelength above which thelens or eyewear provides chroma enhancement. The upper end of one ormore CEWs can encompass a wavelength below which the lens or eyewearprovides chroma enhancement. In some embodiments, the average increasein chroma within CEW₁ compared to a neutral filter having the sameaverage attenuation within each 30 nm stimulus band is greater than orequal to about 20%. The average increase in chroma within CEW₂ comparedto the neutral filter can be greater than or equal to about 3%. Theaverage increase in chroma within CEW₃ compared to a neutral filter canbe greater than or equal to about 5%.

Another example of an optical filter CEW configuration is shown in FIG.44. CEW_(1A) encompasses a spectral range of about 440 nm to about 480nm. CEW_(1B) encompasses a spectral range of about 490 nm to about 510nm. The average increase in chroma compared to a neutral filter can begreater than or equal to about 15% for the CEW_(1A) region and greaterthan or equal to about 15% for the CEW_(1B) region.

A further example of an optical filter CEW configuration is shown inFIG. 45, which is a configuration in which CEW_(2A) encompasses aspectral range of about 540 nm to about 570 nm. FIG. 46 illustrates anadditional embodiment in which an optical filter provides a CEWconfiguration including CEW_(1A), CEW_(1B), CEW_(2A), and CEW₃. Theaverage increase in chroma compared to a neutral filter can be greaterthan or equal to about 4% for the CEW_(2A) spectral region, for example.

FIG. 47 illustrates an example of an optical filter CEW configurationwith an additional enhancement window, CEW_(2B). The CEW_(2B) windowencompasses a spectral range between about 580 nm and about 600 nm. Theaverage increase in chroma compared to a neutral filter can be greaterthan or equal to about 2% for the CEW_(2B) spectral region, for example.FIG. 48 illustrates the relative chroma enhancement of an optical filterconfigured to provide five or more chroma enhancement windows,including: CEW_(2A), CEW_(2B), CEW_(1A), CEW_(1B), and CEW₃. Each ofFIGS. 43 through 48 illustrates a non-limiting example of an opticalfilter CEW configuration, and this disclosure should not be interpretedas limited to any specific configuration or combination ofconfigurations.

In some embodiments, an optical filter is configured to enhance objectvisibility while preserving the natural appearance of viewed scenes.Such optical filters (and eyewear that include such filters) can beconfigured for a wide range of recreational, sporting, professional, andother activities. As a representative example, filters and eyewear canbe configured to be worn while playing a game of golf.

In certain embodiments, eyewear and optical filters provide one or moreCEWs corresponding to a specific activity. A filter can include one ormore CEWs in a portion of the visible spectrum in which an object ofinterest, such as, for example, a golf ball, emits or reflects asubstantial spectral stimulus. When referring to the spectral stimulusof an object of interest, a corresponding CEW can be referred to as theobject spectral window. When referring to spectral stimulus of abackground behind an object, a corresponding CEW can be referred to asthe background spectral window. Moreover, when referring to the spectralstimulus of the general surroundings, the spectral window can bereferred to as the surrounding spectral window. An optical filter can beconfigured such that one or more edges of an absorptance peak lie withinat least one spectral window. In this way, an optical filter can enhancechroma in the spectral ranges corresponding to a given spectral stimulus(e.g. object, background, or surroundings).

Golf balls and corresponding eyewear can be provided in which a golfball cover is configured to produce wavelength-converted light, and theeyewear includes lenses having an object chroma enhancement windowcorresponding to a spectral reflectance of the cover, a spectraltransmittance of any transparent or translucent outer portion of thecover, and/or a spectrum of wavelength-converted light emitted by thecover.

Golf balls are provided that have a cover that is configured towavelength-convert light that is incident at a first wavelength or in afirst wavelength range. The wavelength-converted light can be emitted atlonger wavelengths than the wavelength of the absorbed incident light.The wavelength-converted light has at least a portion corresponding toan object chroma enhancement window of corresponding eyewear. Inrepresentative examples, the golf balls have covers that include afluorescent material that produces fluorescence in a spectral regioncorresponding to a spectral transmittance of a viewing filter. Inadditional embodiments, a portion of the object chroma enhancementwindow corresponds to a spectral region in which light is preferentiallyreflected by the cover.

Methods of enhancing object visibility with respect to a backgroundinclude providing a filter that increases the chroma of the object to beviewed. A light spectrum produced by the filter can define an objectchroma enhancement window. An optical filter is provided that includes aspectral window corresponding to the object chroma enhancement window,and a background chroma enhancement window corresponding to a reflectedor emitted spectral profile of the background. An improved opticalfilter can provide for chroma enhancement within the spectral windows.In some embodiments, the contrast agent is a wavelength-conversionagent, a colorant, or both. In alternative examples, the optical filterincludes a spectral-width window that broadens the transmission spectrumof the filter. In some particular examples, the object chromaenhancement window, the background chroma enhancement window, and thespectral-width window include wavelengths from about 440 nm to about 480nm, about 510 nm to about 580 nm, and about 600 nm to about 660 nm,respectively. In additional examples, the windows include wavelengthsbetween about 400 nm and about 700 nm. Lenses can include spectralwindows that exhibit chroma enhancement within the same spectral rangesthat define the spectral windows. In such embodiments, the lens canprovide increased chroma or decreased chroma within one or more of thespectral windows discussed herein.

These and other features and aspects of certain embodiments aredescribed below with reference to golf and other sporting andnon-sporting applications. For convenience, several representativeexamples pertaining to golf are described, but it will be apparent thatthese examples can be modified in arrangement and detail for otherleisure, recreational, sporting, industrial, professional, or otheractivities.

Viewing a golf ball's trajectory and determining its location areimportant to golfers of various skill levels. Trajectories of a golfball hit by an inexperienced golfer are unpredictable and frequentlyplace the ball in locations in which the ball is hard to find. Suchfailures to promptly find a golf ball can increase the time used to playa round and can reduce the number of rounds that can be played on acourse in a day. Because time spent looking for errant golf ballscontributes to slow play, many courses and many tournaments have rulesconcerning how long a golfer is permitted to search for a lost golf ballbefore putting a replacement ball into play. For more experienced orexpert golfers, loss of a golf ball results in imposition of a penaltythat adds strokes to the golfer's score. Such penalty strokes areannoying, especially when the loss of a ball results from an inabilityto find the ball due to poor viewing conditions and a limited time inwhich to search.

With reference to FIG. 49, a spectral power distribution 300 ofradiation from a golf ball in outdoor illumination such as directsunlight or other illumination conditions includes a blue-enhancedportion 302 located in a wavelength region near a wavelength λ_(B). Theblue-enhanced portion 302 can be produced by conversion of radiationwithin a range of wavelengths shorter than that of the portion 302 toradiation at wavelengths within the blue-enhanced portion 302. Suchwavelength-conversion can result from fluorescence, phosphorescence, orother processes. As used herein, any process in which radiation at ashorter wavelength is converted into radiation at a longer wavelength isreferred to as a wavelength-conversion process. As noted above, atypical example of such a process is fluorescence in which radiation ata first wavelength is absorbed to produce radiation at a longerwavelength. Because the human eye is less sensitive to radiation atwavelengths shorter than the wavelengths of the blue-enhanced portion302 than to radiation within the blue-enhanced portion 302, conversionof radiation from the shorter wavelengths into longer wavelengthradiation tends to make the golf ball appear whiter and brighter. Thespectral power distribution of FIG. 49 corresponds to a golf ball thatappears white and spectral power distributions for non-white golf ballscan have additional spectral features characteristic of the golf ball'scolor.

Spectral power at wavelengths shorter than the suitable cutoff of humanvisual response at wavelengths of about 400 nm is not shown in FIG. 49.Radiation at these shorter wavelengths produces limited human visualresponse. Conversion of these shorter wavelengths into longerwavelengths by fluorescence or other wavelength-conversion process canproduce radiation that makes an appreciable contribution to visualresponse. This conversion process can be enhanced by the selection of agolf ball cover that produces such wavelength-converted light or byincorporating suitable fluorescent, phosphorescent, or otherwavelength-conversion agents into the golf ball cover. A typicalwavelength-conversion agent produces a blue-enhanced region at awavelength λ_(B) that is typically in the range between about 440 nm toabout 480 nm, but wavelength-conversion agents for other wavelengthranges can be used. If the golf ball (or other object of interest) neednot appear white, colored wavelength-conversion agents can be used, suchas colored fluorescent agents. In this example, λ_(B) and moreparticularly the wavelength range in which λ_(B) typically occurs (i.e.from about 440 nm to about 480 nm) represent an object spectral window.

The spectral power distribution 300 illustrated in FIG. 49 isrepresentative of the optical radiation from a golf ball under outdoorillumination conditions. More accurate spectral power distributionvalues depend on the exact illumination conditions. Typical illuminationconditions include illumination from direct sunlight and overcast skiesas well as illumination produced in deep shadows. Under these differentillumination conditions, different spectral power distributions areproduced. For example, an overcast sky typically produces a spectralpower distribution having less total energy as well as relatively lessenergy at shorter (more blue) wavelengths. Nevertheless, the spectralpower distributions associated with these varying illuminationconditions have corresponding blue-enhanced portions produced bywavelength-conversion processes.

Visual perception of a golf ball that produces the spectral powerdistribution of FIG. 49 is improved by enhancing the chroma of the blueportion 302 (the wavelength-converted portion) of the golf ball spectralpower distribution. The blue-enhanced portion 302 has excess bluespectral power relative to the ambient illumination. Providing a bluelight chroma enhancing filter therefore permits improved tracking andlocation of the golf ball. While enhancing the chroma of the blueportion 302 of the spectral power distribution of FIG. 49 permitsincreased golf ball visibility under many conditions, the extent of thisincreased visibility depends on the background in which the golf ball isviewed. For common backgrounds encountered in golf such as fairway orputting surface grasses, chroma enhancement of the blue portion 302 canincrease golf ball visibility. Wearing eyewear that includes lenses thatincrease the chroma of the blue-enhanced portion 302 can permit thegolfer to more readily follow the trajectory of a golf ball and tolocate the golf ball after it has come to rest.

While such eyewear can increase golf ball visibility and permit easiertracking and location of a golf ball, altering the spectral powerdistribution of light passing to the golfer's eyes can produce scenesthat appear unnatural or even disturbing to the golfer. During play of atypical round, the golfer encounters many different backgroundsincluding blue skies, overcast skies, rock, sand, dirt, and vegetation,including putting surfaces, fairways, sand traps, and rough. Eyewearthat enhances the chroma of the blue portion can produce an unnatural ordisturbing appearance to all or some of these surroundings, and impairthe golfer's concentration or perception. Such unnatural appearances canoffset any performance advantage associated with increased golf ballvisibility.

More natural appearing viewing can be obtained with an embodiment of anoptical filter having a spectral absorptance profile as illustrated inFIG. 40. Such an embodiment provides improved golf ball visibility whilemaintaining a natural appearance of scenes viewed through such a filter.As used herein, a spectral region in which an object emits or reflects asubstantial spectral stimulus is referred to as a spectral window. Awidth of a spectral window can be defined as the full width at about75%, 50%, 25%, 20%, 10%, or 5% of a maximum in the spectral powerdistribution. A golf ball can include a blue light stimulus at andaround λ_(B) and one or more additional spectral windows in the greenand red portions of the spectrum.

A filter can include a chroma-enhancing window (CEW) that is configuredto enhance the chroma within a portion, substantially all, or the entirespectral window of a visual stimulus. An optical filter can provide oneor more edges of an absorptance peak within the spectral windows where astimulus is located. For example, the spectral location of a blue lightCEW can be selected to correspond to a particular fluorescent agent sothat eyewear can be spectrally matched to a particular fluorescentagent. Thus, eyewear and golf balls can be spectrally matched to provideenhanced golf ball visibility. Light at wavelengths below about 440 nmcan be attenuated so that potentially harmful short wavelength radiationdoes not enter the eye. For example, some of this short wavelengthradiation can be converted by the fluorescent agent to radiation atwavelengths corresponding to a blue light CEW. The average visible lighttransmittance of a golf lens can be about 20%-30%. Filters for outdooruse typically have average transmittances between about 8%-80%, 10%-60%,or 10%-40%. Filters for indoor use (or use at illumination levels lowerthan normal daylight illumination) can have average transmittancesbetween about 20%-90%, 25%-80%, or 40%-60%.

Green grass and vegetation typically provide a reflected or emittedspectral stimulus with a light intensity maximum at a wavelength ofabout 550 nm. As mentioned above, wavelengths from about 500 nm to about600 nm can define a green or background spectral window. Without a greenlight CEW, light at wavelengths between 500 nm and 600 nm can have lowerchroma than desired, and vegetation can appear relatively muted, drab,or dark. As a result, the golfer's surroundings would appear unnaturaland the golfer's perception of vegetation would be impaired. Thisimpairment is especially serious with respect to putting because thegolfer generally tries to precisely determine various parameters of theputting surface, including height and thickness of the grass coveringthe putting surface, orientation of the blades of grass of the puttingsurface, and the surface topography. Because a golfer takes aboutone-half of her strokes at or near putting surfaces, any visualimpairments at putting surfaces are serious performance disadvantagesand are generally unacceptable. Misperception of vegetation is also asignificant disadvantage when playing out of a fairway or rough. A greenlight CEW, in combination with a blue light CEW, permits enhanced golfball visibility while permitting accurate assessment of backgroundsurfaces such as putting surfaces or other vegetation. An optical filtercan enhance the chroma of a desired object and background by exhibitingat least one edge of an absorptance peak within one or both of the greenlight CEW and the blue light CEW. The concurrence of at least one edgeof an absorptance peak within one or both of the green or blue spectralwindows further aids the human eye in distinguishing a golf ball fromits surroundings by enhancing the chroma of the ball, the chroma of thevegetation, or the chroma of both the ball and vegetation.

A red light CEW can extend over a wavelength range from about 610 nm toabout 720 nm, but the transmission of radiation at wavelengths beyondabout 700 nm provides only a small contribution to a viewed scenebecause of the low sensitivity of the human eye at these wavelengths. Ared light CEW can enhance the natural appearance of scenery viewed withan embodiment of an improved optical filter by enhancing the chroma ofat least some red light reflected by vegetation. For example, chromaenhancement can be seen in FIG. 40, where at least one edge of the redabsorptance peak (e.g., the absorptance peak between about 630 nm andabout 660 nm) falls within the red light CEW. The more polychromaticlight produced by enhancing the chroma of red, green, and bluecomponents of light permits improved focus. In addition, convergence(pointing of the eyes to a common point) and focusing (accommodation)are interdependent, so that improved focusing permits improvedconvergence and improved depth perception. Providing CEWs in the greenand red portions of the visible spectrum can result in improved depthperception as well as improved focus. A filter having such CEWs canimprove perception of vegetation (especially putting surfaces) andprovide more natural looking scenery while retaining the enhanced golfball visibility associated with the blue light CEW. An optical filterthat provides at least one edge of an absorption peak within a CEW canenhance the quality of the light transmitted through the optical filterby increasing its chroma value.

Optical filters having CEWs covering one or more spectral ranges canprovide enhanced visibility. Optical filters having such a spectralprofile can be selected for a particular application based on ease offabrication or a desire for the optical filter to appear neutral. Forcosmetic reasons, it can be desirable to avoid eyewear that appearstinted to others.

Optical filters can be similarly configured for a variety of activitiesin which tracking and observation of an object against a background isfacilitated by wavelength-conversion. Such filters can include awavelength-conversion window, a background window, and a spectral-widthwindow. These CEWs are selected to enhance the chroma ofwavelength-converted light, light from activity-specific backgrounds,and light at additional wavelengths to further extend the total spectralwidth of chroma-enhanced light to improve focus, accommodation, orprovide more natural viewing. For application to a white golf ball asdescribed above, an optical filter is provided with a blue light CEWcorresponding to wavelength-conversion spectral components, a greenlight CEW to facilitate viewing of a background, and a red light CEW toimprove accommodation and the natural appearance of scenes. Such anoptical filter can have a substantially neutral color density. For otheractivities, particular CEWs can be chosen based on expected or measuredbackground colors and wavelengths produced by a wavelength-conversionprocess. For example, tennis is often played on a green playing surfacewith a yellow ball. Such a ball typically has a wavelength conversionregion that produces wavelength-converted light at wavelengths betweenabout 460 nm and 540 nm. An example filter for such an application has awavelength-conversion window at between about 460 nm to about 540 nm,and a background window centered at about 550 nm. Thewavelength-conversion window and the background window can have someoverlap. To provide more natural contrast and better focus, additionaltransmission windows can be provided in wavelength ranges of about 440nm to about 460 nm, from about 620 nm to about 700 nm, or in otherranges.

In alternative embodiments, an optical filter having an object-specificspectral window in addition to or instead of a wavelength-conversionwindow is provided. For example, for viewing of a golf ball that appearsred, the optical filter can include a red light CEW that enhances thechroma of red light to improve golf ball visibility. For natural,accurate viewing of backgrounds (such as putting surfaces), a greenlight CEW is also provided. If the golf ball also emits wavelengthconverted light, an additional wavelength-conversion window can beprovided, if desired. The filter can also include a spectral-widthwindow.

In some embodiments, an optical filter is configured to change thechroma values of a scene in one or more spectral regions in which anobject and/or a background reflect or emit light. An optical filter canbe configured to account for spectral regions where an object ofinterest and the background reflect or emit light. Absorptance peaks canbe positioned such that chroma is increased or decreased in one or morespectral regions where the object of interest is reflecting or emittinglight and where the background is reflecting or emitting light. Forexample, chroma enhancement within an object or a background spectralwindow can be obtained by configuring an optical filter such that atleast one edge of an absorptance peak is positioned within the spectralwindow.

An optical filter can increase contrast between the object and thebackground by providing chroma enhancement in one or both of the objectspectral window and the background spectral window. Color contrastimproves when chroma is increased. For example, when a white golf ballis viewed against a background of green grass or foliage at a distance,chroma enhancement technology can cause the green visual stimulus to bemore narrowband. A narrowed spectral stimulus causes the greenbackground to appear less washed out, resulting in greater colorcontrast between the golf ball and the background.

With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, eyewear can include a frame andlenses 102 a and 102 b. The lenses 102 a and 102 b have a filter thatenhances chroma in a wavelength-conversion window, a background-window,a spectral-width window, another CEW, or any combination of CEWs. Forsome applications, the spectral-width window can be omitted. For otherapplications, an object-specific spectral window is provided that caninclude the wavelength-conversion window. The lenses 102 a and 102 b canbe corrective lenses or non-corrective lenses and can be made of any ofa variety of optical materials including glasses or plastics such asacrylics or polycarbonates. The lenses can have various shapes,including plano-plano and meniscus shapes. In alternative eyewear, aframe is configured to retain a unitary lens that is placed in front ofboth eyes when the eyewear is worn. Goggles can also be provided thatinclude a unitary lens that is placed in front of both eyes when thegoggles are worn.

The spectral transmittance profile and chroma enhancement of the lensesof FIGS. 1A and 1B can be obtained in several ways. A coating can beprovided to one or more surfaces of the lenses. Such coatings typicallyinclude one or more layers of coating materials configured to achieve adesired spectral transmittance and chroma enhancement. The layers can beabsorptive so that radiation from spectral regions that are to beattenuated is absorbed in the coating, or the coating can be reflectiveso that radiation at such wavelengths is reflected. In yet anotherexample, one or more dyes or other chromophores can be incorporatedwithin the lens material by a dyeing process or another process. Two ormore of the above methods can be combined to produce the desiredspectral and chroma characteristics.

While embodiments are described above with reference to particularactivities, additional examples can be provided for other activities.For example, a chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filter can beprovided for sports such as baseball, tennis, badminton, basketball,racquetball, handball, archery, target shooting, trap shooting, cricket,lacrosse, football, ice hockey, field hockey, hunting, soccer, squash,or volleyball. For such sports, such a filter can include an objectchroma enhancement window selected to increase the chroma of naturalreflected light or wavelength-converted light produced by a fluorescentagent in a baseball, tennis ball, badminton birdie, or volleyball orlight that is preferentially reflected by these objects. Backgroundwindows and spectral-width windows can be provided so that backgroundsare apparent, scenes appear natural, and the wearer's focus and depthperception are improved. For sports played on various surfaces, or indifferent settings such as tennis or volleyball, different backgroundwindows can be provided for play on different surfaces. For example,tennis is commonly played on grass courts or clay courts, and filterscan be configured for each surface, if desired. As another example, icehockey can be played on an ice surface that is provided with awavelength-conversion agent or colorant, and lenses can be configuredfor viewing a hockey puck with respect to such ice. Outdoor volleyballbenefits from accurate viewing of a volleyball against a blue sky, andthe background filter can be selected to permit accurate backgroundviewing while enhancing chroma in outdoor lighting. A differentconfiguration can be provided for indoor volleyball. Eyewear thatincludes such filters can be activity-specific, surface-specific, orsetting-specific. In addition, tinted eyewear can be provided foractivities other than sports in which it is desirable to identify,locate, or track an object against backgrounds associated with theactivity. Some representative activities include dentistry, surgery,bird watching, fishing, or search and rescue operations. Such filterscan also be provided in additional configurations such as filters forstill and video cameras, or as viewing screens that are placed for theuse of spectators or other observers. Filters can be provided as lenses,unitary lenses, or as face shields. For example, a filter for hockey canbe included in a face shield.

In certain embodiments, an optical filter includes one or more chromaenhancement dyes that provide absorptance peaks with a relatively highattenuation factor. As used herein, the term “chroma enhancement dyes”includes dyes that, when loaded in a lens in sufficient quantity,produces a discernable and/or substantial chroma-enhancing effect in atleast certain types of scenes viewed by a wearer of eyewearincorporating the lens. Chroma enhancement dyes include dyes thatfeature an absorptance or absorbance peak with a high attenuation factor(e.g., greater than or equal to about 0.8, greater than or equal toabout 0.9, or greater than or equal to about 0.95) and a centerwavelength and/or peak position located within at least one chromaenhancement window. In some embodiments, an optical filter for chromaenhancing eyewear includes two or more of the following: violet chromaenhancement dye, blue chroma enhancement dye, green chroma enhancementdye, yellow chroma enhancement dye, and red chroma enhancement dye. Insome embodiments, a chroma-enhancing lens includes an optical filterincorporating one or more dyes that are thermally unstable at typicallens body molding temperatures.

Violet chroma enhancement dyes include dyes that have a relatively sharpabsorptance peak with a wavelength between about 390 nm and about 440nm, between about 405 nm and about 455 nm, between about 400 nm andabout 420 nm, or between about 405 nm and 425 nm. Examples of such dyesinclude the Exciton ABS 407 dye, the Crysta-Lyn DLS 402A dye, and a dyethat has one or more relatively sharp absorptance peaks within theviolet portion of the spectrum. When incorporated into a chromaenhancing filter, chroma enhancement dyes can provide one or moreabsorptance peaks having any of the characteristics described herein,such as, for example, a bandwidth of greater than or equal to about 15nm or greater than or equal to about 20 nm. Absorptance peaks that arerelatively sharp can include absorptance peaks with a relatively highattenuation factor. Examples of relatively sharp absorptance peaksinclude peaks with an attenuation factor greater than or equal to about0.8, greater than or equal to about 0.85, greater than or equal to about0.9, or greater than or equal to about 0.95. Dyes that have relativelysharp absorptance peaks include dyes that can be used to create one ormore spectral features of at least some of the chroma enhancing filtersdisclosed herein.

Blue chroma enhancement dyes include dyes that have a relatively sharpabsorptance peak with a wavelength between about 440 nm and about 490nm, between about 445 nm and about 480 nm, between about 460 nm andabout 480 nm, or between about 450 nm and 475 nm. In some embodiments, ablue chroma enhancement dye, when incorporated into an optical filter,is configured to produce an absorptance peak with a bandwidth of greaterthan or equal to about 15 nm or greater than or equal to about 20 nm.Examples of such dyes include the Exciton ABS 473 dye, the Crysta-LynDLS 461B dye, and a dye that has one or more relatively sharpabsorptance peaks within the blue portion of the spectrum. In someembodiments, a blue chroma enhancement dye is a dye that has arelatively sharp absorptance peak within one or more of the chromaenhancement windows CEW₁, CEW_(1A), or CEW_(1B).

Green chroma enhancement dyes include dyes that have a relatively sharpabsorptance peak with a wavelength between about 520 nm and about 570nm, between about 558 nm and about 580 nm, between about 540 nm andabout 580 nm, or between about 540 nm and 565 nm. In some embodiments, agreen chroma enhancement dye, when incorporated into an optical filter,is configured to produce an absorptance peak with a bandwidth of greaterthan or equal to about 15 nm or greater than or equal to about 20 nm.Examples of such dyes include the Exciton ABS 561 dye, the Crysta-LynDLS 564B dye, and a dye that has one or more relatively sharpabsorptance peaks within the green portion of the spectrum. In someembodiments, a green chroma enhancement dye is a dye that has arelatively sharp absorptance peak within one or more of the chromaenhancement windows CEW₂ or CEW_(2A).

Yellow chroma enhancement dyes include dyes that have a relatively sharpabsorptance peak with a wavelength between about 570 nm and about 590nm, between about 580 nm and about 600 nm, or between about 570 nm andabout 580 nm. In some embodiments, a yellow chroma enhancement dye, whenincorporated into an optical filter, is configured to produce anabsorptance peak with a bandwidth of greater than or equal to about 15nm or greater than or equal to about 20 nm. Examples of such dyesinclude the Exciton ABS 574 dye, and a dye that has one or morerelatively sharp absorptance peaks within the yellow portion of thespectrum. In some embodiments, a yellow chroma enhancement dye is a dyethat has a relatively sharp absorptance peak within one of the chromaenhancement windows CEW₂ or CEW_(2B).

Red chroma enhancement dyes include dyes that have a relatively sharpabsorptance peak with a wavelength between about 600 nm and about 680nm, between about 630 nm and about 660 nm, between about 640 nm andabout 670 nm, or between about 600 nm and 660 nm. In some embodiments, ared chroma enhancement dye, when incorporated into an optical filter, isconfigured to produce an absorptance peak with a bandwidth of greaterthan or equal to about 15 nm or greater than or equal to about 20 nm.Examples of such dyes include the Exciton ABS 659 dye, the Crysta-LynDLS 654B dye, and a dye that has one or more relatively sharpabsorptance peaks within the red portion of the spectrum. In someembodiments, a red chroma enhancement dye is a dye that has a relativelysharp absorptance peak within the chroma enhancement window CEW₃.

Information related to certain example chroma enhancement dyes fromExciton is shown in Table C. Information related to certain examplechroma enhancement dyes from the Crysta-Lyn Chemical Company is shown inTable D.

TABLE C Example Example center λ melting pt. Example solubilitiesExample strength Example dyes (nm) (° C.) in solvents (gm/L) (L/gm · cm)Violet chroma 407 ± 1 >300 24 (chloroform) >490 (methylene enhancementdye 3.5 (toluene) chloride at 407 nm 4.8 (cyclohexanone) peak) Bluechroma 473 ± 2 >200 9 (cyclopentanone) 175 (methylene enhancement dye 16(methylene chloride) chloride) 25 (chloroform) 14 (toluene) Green chroma561 ± 2 >300 1.1 (methylene chloride) 44 (methylene enhancement dye 0.6(toluene) chloride) 2.6 (chloroform) 0.3 (cyclohexane) 0.15 (methylethyl ketone) Yellow chroma 574 ± 2 >300 28 (methylene chloride) 183(methylene enhancement dye 7.5 (hexane) chloride) 2.8 (toluene) 0.467(acetone) Red chroma 660 ± 2 >300 Highest in chlorinated >320(chloroform) enhancement dye solvents, e.g., chloroform

TABLE D Example dyes Peak λ (nm) Melting Pt. (° C.) Blue chromaenhancement dye 461 257 Green chroma enhancement dye 564 242 Red chromaenhancement dye 654 223

In some embodiments, a lens comprises an injection molded, polymericlens having a concave surface and a convex surface, and a laminatebonded to the injection molded, polymeric lens. The laminate can includea first polymeric layer, a base layer, and a second polymeric layer, thefirst polymeric layer being bonded to the convex surface of theinjection molded, polymeric lens. The polymeric lens can include acopolymer resin. In some embodiments, the first polymeric layer isdirectly bonded to the polymeric lens. In certain embodiments, the firstpolymeric layer is adhesively bonded to the polymeric lens. The baselayer can at least partially incorporate an optical filter layer. Thelens can be corrective or non-corrective. The lens can have any suitableshape, including, for example, plano-plano, meniscus, cylindrical,spherical, another shape, or a combination of shapes.

FIG. 53 illustrates an example embodiment of a lens providing chromaenhancement. The lens 402 includes a lens body 404 and a laminate 406.The laminate 406 and the lens body 404 are bonded together. In someembodiments, the laminate 406 and the lens body 404 can be integrallyconnected to each other and can be adhesively bonded together. In someembodiments, the lens 402 includes a first lens coating 408 and not asecond lens coating 410. In certain embodiments, the lens 402 includesboth a first lens coating 408 and a second lens coating 410. In someembodiments, the lens 402 includes a second lens coating 410 and not afirst lens coating 408. In certain embodiments, the lens 402 includes nolens coating.

The laminate 406 can comprise a single layer or multiple layers. Thelaminate 406 can have one or more layers in single or multiple layerform that can be coated with a hard coating or a primer. For example,the laminate can be a single layer of polycarbonate, PET, polyethylene,acrylic, nylon, polyurethane, polyimide, another film material, or acombination of materials. As another example, the laminate can comprisemultiple layers of film, where each film layer comprises polycarbonate,PET, polyethylene, acrylic, nylon, polyurethane, polyimide, another filmmaterial, or a combination of materials.

The first lens coating 408 or second lens coating 410 can be atransition layer between the laminate 406 and the lens body 404. Thetransition layer can assist in matching the optical index of thelaminate 406 and the lens body 404. In some embodiments, the transitionlayer can improve adhesion between the layers or improve otherproperties of the lens.

The lens 402 can be of any desired shape. For example, the lens 402 canhave 1 axis of curvature or 2 axes of curvature, the lens can becylindrical, parabolic, spherical, flat, or elliptical, or any othershape such as a meniscus or catenoid. The lens 402 can also becorrective or non-corrective.

In some embodiments of the lens 402 depicted in FIG. 53, the opticalfilter is partially incorporated into the lens body 404. In certainembodiments, the optical filter can be partially incorporated into thelaminate 406. The laminate 406 includes one or more chroma enhancementdyes configured to attenuate visible light passing through the lens 402in one or more spectral bands. In certain embodiments, the laminate 406includes one or more blue chroma enhancement dyes. In some embodiments,the laminate 406 can incorporate one or more violet chroma enhancementdyes. In some embodiments, the laminate 406 can incorporate one or moreyellow chroma enhancement dyes. In some embodiments, the laminate 406can incorporate one or more red chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, the laminate 406 can incorporate one or more green chromaenhancement dyes. It is to be understood that the laminate 406 canincorporate any permutation of violet, blue, green, yellow, and/or redchroma enhancement dyes to achieve one or more desired opticalproperties. In some embodiments, the lens body 404 can incorporate oneor more violet, blue, green, yellow, and/or red chroma enhancement dyes.

As depicted in FIG. 54, a lens can include a laminate 506 and a lensbody 504. The laminate 506 can include a base layer 508 that is attachedto a first polymeric layer 510. The laminate 506 can include a secondpolymeric layer 512 such that the base layer 508 is sandwiched betweenthe first polymeric layer 510 and the second polymeric layer 512. Thelaminate 506 can also include a first bonding layer 514 situated inbetween the first polymeric layer 510 and the base layer 508. Thelaminate 506 can also include a second bonding layer 516 situatedbetween the second polymeric layer 512 and the base layer 508. Thelaminate 506 can also include a first lens coating 518 disposed on thefirst polymeric layer 510. The laminate 506 can also include a secondlens coating 520 disposed on the second polymeric layer 512. In certainembodiments, the second lens coating can also be disposed on either sideof the lens body 504.

The first or second polymeric layers 510, 512, if present, and the baselayer 508, if present, can serve various functions within the lens 502.For example, one or more of the polymeric layers can serve to thermallyinsulate the base layer 508 such that the laminate 506 can be used inhigh temperature molding processes without subjecting the base layer 508to temperatures sufficient to significantly degrade the opticalperformance of the base layer 508 or one or more materials within thebase layer 508. In some embodiments, one or more layers in the laminate506 can provide optical properties to the lens 502 such as opticalfiltering, polarization, or photochromism. In some embodiments, one ormore polymeric layers 510, 512, one or more lens coatings 518, 520, orone or more bonding layers 514, 516 can provide mechanical protection tothe lens 502 or other layers within the laminate 506, reduce stresseswithin the laminate 506, or improve bonding or adhesion among the layersin the laminate 506 and/or between the laminate 506 and the lens body504. In some embodiments, one or more polymeric layers 510, 512, one ormore lens coatings 518, 520, or one or more bonding layers 514, 516 canprovide additional functionality such as anti-reflection functionality,anti-static functionality, anti-fog functionality, scratch resistance,mechanical durability, hydrophobic functionality, reflectivefunctionality, darkening functionality, or aesthetic functionalityincluding tinting.

The lens body 504 of the lens 502 can be contoured during initialformation to have an optical magnification characteristic that modifiesthe focal power of the lens 502. In some embodiments, the lens body 504can be machined after initial formation to modify the focal power of thelens 502. The lens body 504 provides a substantial amount of the opticalpower and magnification characteristics to the lens 502. The base layer508 inherently affects the optical power and magnificationcharacteristics of the lens 502 since the laminate 506 contributes tothe overall thickness of the lens 502. In some embodiments, the lensbody 504 provides the majority of the lens 502 optical power andmagnification characteristics. Apportioning the majority of opticalpower and magnification to the lens body 504 can permit selection oflens body 504 materials and lens body 504 formation techniques thatprovide improved lens 502 optical power and magnificationcharacteristics, without adversely affecting selection of laminate 506materials and formation techniques.

Though not depicted in FIG. 54, the base layer 508 can be structured ina variety of ways, such as in composite or multi-layer fashion. Forexample, the base layer 508 can be structured to include one or morechroma enhancement dyes (not shown) that increase the chroma of a sceneas compared to the chroma of a substantially unfiltered scene. Asanother example, the base layer 508 can include multiple film portions(not shown) such as a chroma enhancing film portion, a polarizing filmportion, and/or a photochromic film portion that are laminated togetherusing a suitable technique.

An optical filter can be incorporated into the base layer 508. Thelaminate 506 that includes the optical filter can then be included in amold, such as an injection mold, so that the film 508 with the opticalfilter is integrally molded as part of the lens 502. Furthermore, one ormore additional elements such as photochromic, polarizing,abrasion-resistant, or tinting elements, can be incorporated into thebase layer 508 and integrally molded as part of the lens 502. Theelements can be made by many convenient manufacturing processes,including but not limited to lamination of the layers, adhesivesecurement of the individual layers, and extrusion of one or more layers(or all three layers) to form the three layer element (referred to as alaminate, but available for manufacture, as noted above, by processes inaddition to lamination). In some embodiments, a method of making thelaminate includes extruding layers in sequence or at the same time inthe appropriate order of layers. The center layer of the three layersshould be the film layer so that a layer furthest from the lens bodyacts as a scratch resistant or protective layer, and the layer closestto the lens body acts as a cushion or tying layer to the lens body. Itis structurally possible to use a two layer laminate (with the topmostprotective polymeric layer and the lens body) by using a dry filmadhesive or liquid adhesive between the lens body and the film layer.

The base layer 508 can incorporate one or more chroma enhancement dyes.The base layer 508 operates to put the chroma enhancing properties ofthe optical filter in working relation with the lens body 504. Otherproperties of interest can be incorporated into the film layer, such asaesthetic properties like lens decor, indicia, tint and color. Stillfurther examples of properties of interest can include durabilityfeatures, such as hardness, abrasion resistance, and chemicalresistance. In some embodiments, the base layer 508 includes one or morechroma enhancement dyes configured to significantly attenuate the lightpassing through the lens 502 within one or more chroma enhancementwindows. Portions of the laminate 506 can provide optical properties tothe lens 502 such as optical filtering, polarization, or photochromism.

The base layer 508 can include a base film (not shown) and one or morechroma enhancement dyes configured to enhance the chroma of a scene whencompared to a substantially unfiltered scene (not shown) that areincorporated into or onto the base film. When the base layer 508comprises more than a film that at least partially incorporates theoptical filter, the base layer 508 can include more than one base film(not shown). In some embodiments, the base layer 508 can include one ormore chroma enhancement dyes configured to increase the chroma withinone or more chroma enhancing windows (not shown) and a base resin (notshown), with the one or more chroma enhancement dyes and the base resinbeing homogeneously blended together prior to formation of base layer508 from the medium/resin mixture. Besides the base layer 508, thelaminate 506 includes the first polymeric layer 510 and can include thesecond polymeric layer 512. If the second polymeric layer 512 isincluded, the first and second polymeric layers 510, 512 are located onopposing sides of the base layer 508.

In some embodiments, the base layer 508 includes one or more chromaenhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, the base film or resin can bea polycarbonate. In certain embodiments, the base film or resin is ofthe polyvinyl acetate-type. Specific examples of suitable resins ofeither the base film or the base resin include polycarbonate, polyvinylacetate, polyimide, PET, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane,acrylic, polyvinyl, formal, polyvinyl acetal, and saponified(ethylene/vinyl acetate) copolymer film.

The amount of dye dissolved into the film or resinous material can be anamount sufficient such that the base layer 508 has the spectral profilethat is configured to produce chroma-enhanced scenes as described in oneor more embodiments described herein. The amount of dye dissolved in thematerial can be, for example, sufficient to provide significantattenuation within one or more chroma enhancement windows and less thanor equal to the solubility limit of the dye in the film or resinousmaterial.

One or more chroma enhancement dyes can be incorporated into the basefilm or resin to make the base layer 508 with the chroma-enhancingproperty. For example, the base film can be extruded from pellets thathave been coated with one or more chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, the pellets and a suitable amount of chroma enhancementdye(s) are loaded into an agitation or tumbling chamber. A suitableamount of chroma enhancement dye(s) can be approximately equal to anamount that results in a film layer with a desired level of absorptance.The amount can depend, for example, on the strength of the dyes, thethickness of the film layer, the solubility of the dyes, the desiredconcentration of the dyes, and the desired absorptance profile of theoptical filter. The mixture is tumbled or agitated until the pellets arecoated with a desired degree of uniformity. Then, the chroma enhancementdye-coated pellets are loaded into an extruder. The extruder is operatedto create an optical grade film of substantially uniform thickness. Insome embodiments, all or substantially all of the dyes incorporated intothe film layer are dissolved into the film resin. Accordingly, theresulting film is substantially free of undissolved dyes, which candegrade the optical properties of the film.

The thickness of the base layer 508 depends at least partially on thesolubility, strength, and/or concentration of the one or more chromaenhancement dyes that are incorporated into the film. Some embodimentsincorporate a relatively thin film layer, such as, for example, thethinnest possible film that provides sufficient solubility of the dyesused in the optical filter to produce a desired optical filter spectralprofile. Tables C and D provide example solubility characteristics ofvarious example chroma enhancement dyes. For example, in someembodiments, the base layer 508 includes a blue chroma enhancement dye.The base layer 508 can have any suitable thickness, such as, for examplea thickness between about 0.01 mm and about 1 mm, greater than or equalto about 0.01 mm, or greater than or equal to about about 0.1 mm. Incertain embodiments, the base layer 508 includes blue and yellow chromaenhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, the base layer 508 includesblue, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes. In certain embodiments,the base layer 508 includes blue, green, yellow, and red chromaenhancement dyes. The range of thicknesses of the base layer 508 when itincorporates one or more chroma enhancement dyes is about 0.01 mm toabout 0.1 mm, with some embodiments having a thickness less than about0.01 mm and some embodiments having a thickness greater than about 0.1mm.

In some embodiments, the base layer 508 includes one or more blue chromaenhancement dyes. In some embodiments, the base layer 508 canincorporate one or more violet chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, the base layer 508 can incorporate one or more yellowchroma enhancement dyes. In some embodiments, the base layer 508 canincorporate one or more red chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, the base layer 508 can incorporate one or more green chromaenhancement dyes. It is to be understood that any permutation of violet,blue, green, yellow, and/or red chroma enhancement dyes can be loadedinto the base layer 508 to achieve one or more desired opticalproperties. In some embodiments, other lens elements can incorporate oneor more violet, blue, green, yellow, and/or red chroma enhancement dyes.

The first polymeric layer 510 can be attached to the base layer 508 by afirst bonding layer 514, and the second polymeric layer 512, ifincluded, can be attached to the base layer 508 by a second bondinglayer 516. The first bonding layer is typically not included when thebase layer 508 is the coating 518. In some embodiments, a first lenscoating 518 is applied onto the first polymeric layer 510. In certainembodiments, a second lens coating 520 is applied onto the secondpolymeric layer 512, if the second polymeric layer 512 is included. Thefirst and second lens coatings 518 and 520 are depicted with dashedlines in FIG. 54. The schematic diagram shown in FIG. 54 is not toscale, and the thicknesses of one or more lens elements can beexaggerated for schematic purposes.

In some embodiments, the laminate 506 includes a wafer (not shown) thathas a first polymeric layer 510. In the wafer, the base layer 508 cancomprise either the second polymeric layer 512, the second lens coating520, or the second polymeric layer 512 that is coated with the secondlens coating 520. If the wafer includes the second polymeric layer 510,the wafer can also include either the first bonding layer 514 or thesecond bonding layer 516 to attach the second polymeric layer 512 to thefirst polymeric layer 510. Also, the first polymeric layer 510 caninclude the first lens coating 518.

The laminate 506 can be attached to the lens body 504 with either thefirst polymeric layer 510, the second polymeric layer 512, the firstlens coating 518, or the second lens coating 520 in contact with thelens body 504. In some embodiments, the laminate 506 is attached to thelens body 504 with either the first polymeric layer 510 or the secondpolymeric layer 512 in contact (not shown) with the lens body 504.

When the first polymeric layer 510 or the first lens coating 518 is incontact with the lens body 504, the second polymeric layer 512, ifincluded, can form an outside surface 522 of the lens 502 that is opento atmosphere and that protects the base layer 508 from marring andabrasion. In some embodiments, the outside surface 522 is a convexsurface. The second lens coating 520, if included, can substitute forthe second polymeric layer 512 as the outside surface 522. In someembodiments, when the second polymeric layer 512 or the second lenscoating 520 is in contact with the lens body 504, the first polymericlayer 510, if included, forms the outside surface 522 of the lens 502that is open to atmosphere and that protects the base layer 508 frommarring and abrasion. Also, the first lens coating 518, if included, cansubstitute for the first polymeric layer 510 as the outside surface 522.Furthermore, when the laminate 506 takes the form of the wafer (notshown), the second polymeric layer 512 or the second lens coating 520can form the protective outside surface 522.

In certain embodiments, the first polymeric layer 510 and the secondpolymeric layer 512 should be compatible with the lens body 504, thelaminate 506, the first and second bonding layers 514, 516, and, ifincluded, the first and second lens coatings 518, 522. In this context,compatible layers can refer to layers that are capable of eitherstrongly bonding with or strongly adhering to the material of the lensbody 504. Compatible layers can also refer to one or more materialswithin the first polymeric layer 510 and/or the second polymeric layer512 that are unlikely to undesirably react with other lens 502components to degrade the lens body 504, the base layer 508, the firstbonding layer 514, the second bonding layer 516, the first lens coating518 (if included), the second lens coating 520 (if included), or organicdyes incorporated in any of the lens 502 elements.

Furthermore, the one of the first polymeric layer 510 and the secondpolymeric layer 512 that is attached to the lens body 504 can generallybe made of polycarbonate, PET, polyehtylene, acrylic, nylon,polyurethane, polyimide, or polyester. Thus, the first polymeric layer510 and the second polymeric layer 512 can each be made of differentmaterials, such as different thermoplastic resins. Either or both of thepolymeric layers 510, 512 can be made of a different material than thelens body 504. In certain embodiments, the lens body 504 and the one ofthe first polymeric layer 510 and the second polymeric layer 512 that isattached to the lens body 504 are each made of any of a varietythermoplastic resins, including homopolymers and copolymers ofpolycarbonate, amorphous polyolefin, polystyrene, and acrylic compoundsto permit fusion of the lens body 504 to the first polymeric layer 510or second polymeric layer 512. In some embodiments, the lens body 504and the one of the first polymeric layer 510 and the second polymericlayer 512 that is attached to the lens body 504 are each made of thesame thermoplastic resin to further enhance fusion of the lens body 504to the first polymeric layer 510 or second polymeric layer 512.

One or more chroma enhancement dyes can be incorporated into theresinous material that comprises the first or second polymeric layers510, 512. The amount of dye dissolved into the resinous material can bean amount sufficient such that at least the first or second polymericlayer 510, 512 has a spectral profile that is configured to producechroma-enhanced scenes as described in one or more embodiments describedherein. The amount of dye dissolved in the material can be, for example,sufficient to provide significant attenuation within one or more chromaenhancement windows and less than or equal to the solubility limit ofthe dye in the resinous material.

The thickness of a polymeric layer incorporating one or more chromaenhancement dyes depends at least partially on the solubility of the oneor more chroma enhancement dyes. For example, in certain embodiments atleast a first or second polymeric layer 510 or 512 includes a bluechroma enhancement dye resulting in a layer with a thickness of about0.1 mm, greater than about 0.1 mm, between about 0.1 mm and about 1 mm,less than about 0.1 mm, or greater than about 1 mm. In certainembodiments, at least a first or second polymeric layer 510 or 512includes blue and yellow chroma enhancement dyes. In certainembodiments, at least a first or second polymeric layer 510 or 512includes blue, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes. In certainembodiments, at least a first or second polymeric layer 510 or 512includes blue, yellow, red, and green chroma enhancement dyes. The rangeof thicknesses of at least a first or second polymeric layer 510 or 512incorporating one or more chroma enhancement dyes can between about 0.1mm and about 1 mm. In some embodiments, one or more polymeric layers510, 512 have a thickness less than or equal to about 0.1 mm. In certainembodiments, one or more polymeric layers 510, 512 have a thicknessgreater than or equal to about 1 mm.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the first or second polymericlayers 510, 512 includes one or more blue chroma enhancement dyes. Insome embodiments, at least one of the first or second polymeric layers510, 512 can incorporate one or more violet chroma enhancement dyes. Insome embodiments, at least one of the first or second polymeric layers510, 512 can incorporate one or more yellow chroma enhancement dyes. Insome embodiments, at least one of the first or second polymeric layers510, 512 can incorporate one or more red chroma enhancement dyes. Insome embodiments, at least one of the first or second polymeric layers510, 512 can incorporate one or more green chroma enhancement dyes. Itis to be understood that at least one of the first or second polymericlayers 510, 512 can incorporate any permutation of violet, blue, green,yellow, and/or red chroma enhancement dyes to achieve one or moredesired optical properties. In some embodiments, other lens elements canincorporate one or more violet, blue, green, yellow, and/or red chromaenhancement dyes.

In some embodiments, the lens 506 includes a chroma enhancing filterthat is configured to withstand temperatures that are typical of lensmanufacturing techniques. In certain embodiments, the chroma enhancingfilter can be at least partially incorporated into the lens using one ormore chroma enhancement dyes that tend to degrade or decompose attemperatures at which resins are injected into a mold in some injectionmolding processes. In some such embodiments, one or more chromaenhancement dyes can be incorporated into the first polymeric layer 510(for example, the polymeric layer on the convex side of the base layer508). In some such embodiments, one or more chroma enhancement dyes canbe incorporated into a bonding layer 514 or a coating 518 on a convexside of the base layer 508. By incorporating one or more chromaenhancement dyes into a layer near the convex or outer surface 522 ofthe lens 506, the one or more chroma enhancement dyes can besubstantially insulated from high temperature resins during a moldingprocess. Although the molding process may call for a resin to enter alens mold at a temperature higher than a threshold temperature at whichthe one or more chroma enhancement dyes begin to substantially degradeor decompose, the second polymeric layer 512, one or more bonding layers514, 516, and/or the base layer 508 can provide thermal insulationbetween the hot resin and the layer(s) that incorporate the one or morechroma enhancement dyes.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lens 102 can have a first lens body element 204, asecond lens body element 208, and a laminate or film layer 206 disposedbetween the first and second lens body elements 204, 208. In someembodiments, the first lens body element 204 and the second lens bodyelement 208 are located on opposite sides of the laminate or film layer206. The lens can include a coating 202 on the first lens body element204. In some embodiments, the coating 202 can also be located on thesecond lens body element 208. In certain embodiments, the coating 202can be located in between the first lens body element 204 and thelaminate or film layer 206. In certain embodiments, the coating 202 canbe located between the second lens body element 208 and the laminate orfilm layer 206. The configuration depicted in FIG. 2 advantageouslyallows a lens body element to have a non-uniform thickness, such as in acorrective lens configuration, while maintaining the chroma-enhancingbenefits provided by the optical filter when it is not incorporated inthe lens body element.

Methods and materials suitable for bonding the first polymeric layer 510to the base layer 508, for bonding the second polymeric layer 512 to thebase layer 508, or for bonding the first and second polymeric layers510, 512 to each other can be used to facilitate adhesion between two ormore lens elements. Examples of bonding technologies that may besuitable include thermal welding, fusing, pressure sensitive adhesives,polyurethane adhesives, electrostatic attraction, thermoforming, othertypes of adhesives, materials curable by ultraviolet light, thermallycurable materials, radiation-curable materials, other bonding methods,other bonding materials, and combinations of methods and/or materials.In some embodiments, any technique suitable for bonding the layers ofthe laminate 506 together can be used.

Materials suitable for use as the first bonding layer 514 and the secondbonding layer 516 should have good optical properties, including highoptical transparencies, no yellowing upon exposure to sunlight, anability to flex during injection molding without becoming crazed,minimal shrinkage during curing, and should meet the aforementionedmaterial compatibility requirement. Some examples of suitable materialsfor the first bonding layer 514 and the second bonding layer 516 includeacrylic-type, epoxy-type and urethane-type adhesives, such as Loctite®FMD-207, Loctite® FMD-338, Loctite® FMD-436, and Loctite® 3311, eachavailable from Loctite Corporation of Hartford, Conn.; Norland OpticalAdhesive Type 68 available from Norland Products Inc. of New Brunswick,N.J.; and Summers Laboratories Type SK-9 available from SummersLaboratories, Inc. of Collegeville, Pa. The materials used for the firstbonding layer 514 and the second bonding layer 516 can be curable bythermal treatment or by treatment with ultraviolet light.

In some embodiments, a lens includes one or more adhesion layers. Theadhesion layer can be made from any suitable bonding material, such as,for example, adhesive, a material that enhances electrostaticattraction, a material curable by application of heat, ultravioletradiation, or other radiation, another material that facilitatesadhesion between two surfaces, or a combination of materials. In certainembodiments, the bonding material incorporates one or more chromaenhancement dyes. For example, the one or more chroma enhancement dyescan be added to a container of the bonding material, and the mixture canbe stirred or otherwise agitated until the dyes are substantially,almost completely, or completely dissolved into the bonding material.The bonding material can then be applied between two or more lenscomponents, thereby promoting adhesion between the components and addingat least a portion of a chroma enhancement filter to the composite lensstructure.

The amount of dye dissolved into the bonding or adhesive material can bean amount sufficient such that at least a first and/or second bondinglayer 514 or 516, combined with any other optical filtering components,produce a desired chroma-enhancement effect. For example, the opticalfilter can be similar to one or more of the chroma enhancement filtersdisclosed herein or could have a spectral profile somewhat different orsubstantially different from the filters disclosed herein. The amount ofdye dissolved in the bonding or adhesive material can be, for example,sufficient to provide significant attenuation within a chromaenhancement window without exceeding the solubility limit of the dye inthe material.

The thickness of a bonding layer incorporating one or more chromaenhancement dyes depends at least partially on factors such as thesolubility, strength, and concentration of the one or more chromaenhancement dyes. For example, in certain embodiments at least a firstor second bonding layer 514 or 516 includes a blue chroma enhancementdye resulting in a layer with a thickness of about 5 μm, greater than orequal to about 5 μm and/or less than or equal to about 50 μm, or greaterthan or equal to about 50 μm. In certain embodiments, at least a firstor second bonding layer 514 or 516 includes blue and yellow chromaenhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, at least a first or secondbonding layer 514 or 516 includes blue, yellow, and red chromaenhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, at least a first or secondbonding layer 514 or 516 includes blue, green, yellow, and red chromaenhancement dyes. The thicknesses of a first bonding layer 514 or asecond bonding layer 516 incorporating one or more chroma enhancementdyes can be greater than or equal to about 5 μm and/or less than orequal to about 50 μm, with some embodiments having a thickness less thanabout 5 μm and some embodiments having a thickness greater than about 50μm.

The bonding layers can include one or more functional layer groupsdisposed on a substrate and/or between two or more other layers. Thebonding layer can be made from a material system that can adhere thesubstrate and/or to one or more coatings. The material system for thebonding layer can include polyurethane adhesive, organic adhesive,thermoplastic adhesive, thermoset adhesive, another suitable material,or a combination of materials. The thickness of the bonding layer can begenerally greater than or equal to about 5 μm and/or less than or equalto about 50 μm. Many other variations or alternative configurations forthe bonding layer are possible.

In some embodiments, at least one of the first or second bonding layers514, 516 includes one or more blue chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, at least one of the first or second bonding layers 514, 516can incorporate one or more violet chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, at least one of the first or second bonding layers 514, 516can incorporate one or more yellow chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, at least one of the first or second bonding layers 514, 516can incorporate one or more red chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, at least one of the first or second bonding layers 514, 516can incorporate one or more green chroma enhancement dyes. It is to beunderstood that at least one of the first or second bonding layers 514,516 can incorporate any permutation of violet, blue, green, yellow,and/or red chroma enhancement dyes to achieve one or more desiredoptical properties. In some embodiments, other lens elements canincorporate one or more violet, blue, green, yellow, and/or red chromaenhancement dyes.

The first lens coating 518 and the second lens coating 520 can be formedof any material(s) suitable for providing hardness, abrasion resistance,and/or chemical resistance to the laminate 506, especially if thematerial compatibility requirement is met. Some examples of suitablecoating materials include hard acrylic coatings and hard polysiloxanecompounds. In some embodiments, the first lens coating 518 and thesecond lens coating 520 can be formed of any material(s) suitable forproviding interference properties, anti-reflection properties, improvedadhesion with other lens elements, and/or providing a desirable index ofrefraction between the air and the laminate 506 and/or the laminate 506and the lens body 504. The first lens coating 518 and the second lenscoating 520 can be situated in between any layer in the laminate 506such as between the first polymeric layer 512 and the base layer 508. Insome embodiments, the first lens coating 518 or the second lens coating520 can be situated between the first and second polymeric layers 510and 512.

In certain embodiments, the lens coating material incorporates one ormore chroma enhancement dyes. For example, the one or more chromaenhancement dyes can be added to a container of the coating material,and the mixture can be stirred or otherwise agitated until the dyes aresubstantially, almost completely, or completely dissolved into thecoating material. The coating material can then be applied to one ormore lens components, thereby providing functionality such as a hardcoating or primer to one or more lens elements and adding at least aportion of a chroma enhancement filter to the composite lens structure.In certain embodiments, a coating material can be applied to one or morelens elements. One or more chroma enhancement dyes can then be mixedwith a polar solvent, such as water, until the dyes are substantially,almost completely, or completely dissolved into the polar solvent. Thelens element(s) can then be dipped into the solution where thechromophores can then lodge into the microscopic structures of thesubstrate.

In certain embodiments, one or more chroma enhancement dyes can beincorporated into a lens coating material. The amount of dye dissolvedinto the lens coating material can be an amount sufficient such that atleast the first or second lens coating 518 or 520 has the spectralprofile that is configured to produce chroma-enhanced scenes asdescribed in one or more embodiments described herein. The amount of dyedissolved in the material can be, for example, sufficient to providesignificant attenuation within one or more chroma enhancement windowsand less than or equal to the solubility limit of the dye in thematerial.

The thickness of a lens coating incorporating one or more chromaenhancement dyes depends at least partially on the solubility, strength,and concentration of the one or more chroma enhancement dyes. Forexample, in certain embodiments at least a first or second lens coating518 or 520 includes one or more blue chroma enhancement dyes resultingin a coating with a thickness of about 0.5 μm, greater than about 0.5μm, between about 0.5 μm and about 4 μm, less than about 0.5 μm, orgreater than about 4 μm. In certain embodiments, at least a first orsecond lens coating 518 or 520 includes blue and yellow chromaenhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, at least a first or secondlens coating 518 or 520 includes blue, yellow, and red chromaenhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, at least a first or secondlens coating 518 or 520 includes blue, yellow, red, and green chromaenhancement dyes. The range of thicknesses of at least a first or secondlens coating 518 or 520 incorporating one or more chroma enhancementdyes can be about 0.5 μm to about 4 μm. In some embodiments, the coatinghas a thickness less than or equal to about 0.5 μm or greater than orequal to about 4 μm.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the first or second lenscoatings 518, 520 includes one or more blue chroma enhancement dyes. Insome embodiments, at least one of the first or second lens coatings 518,520 can incorporate one or more violet chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, at least one of the first or second lens coatings 518, 520can incorporate one or more yellow chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, at least one of the first or second lens coatings 518, 520can incorporate one or more red chroma enhancement dyes. In someembodiments, at least one of the first or second lens coatings 518, 520can incorporate one or more green chroma enhancement dyes. It is to beunderstood that at least one of the first or second lens coatings 518,520 can incorporate any permutation of violet, blue, green, yellow,and/or red chroma enhancement dyes to achieve one or more desiredoptical properties. In some embodiments, other lens elements canincorporate one or more violet, blue, green, yellow, and/or red chromaenhancement dyes.

As noted, when the laminate 506 takes the form of the wafer (not shown),the base layer 508 can consist of either the second polymeric layer 512,the second lens coating 520, or the second polymeric layer 512 that iscoated with the second lens coating 520. Thus, when the laminate 506takes the form of the wafer (not shown), it should be readily understoodthat consequent changes in the thickness of the base layer 508 willresult.

In certain embodiments, the laminate of FIG. 54 is a polarizing wafer.The polarizing wafer can be similar in many respects to polarizingwafers available from, for example, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company,Inc. of Tokyo, Japan and Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan.The polarizing wafer can at least partially incorporate an opticalfilter designed to provide chroma enhancement in one or more portions ofthe visible spectrum. In some embodiments of the polarizing wafer atleast partially incorporating an optical filter, the first polymericlayer 510 and the second polymeric layer 512 comprise clear, stretchedpolycarbonate sheets each having a thickness ranging from about 0.03 mmto about 4 mm, or a thickness ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 3 mm.In some embodiments, the first bonding layer 514 and the second bondinglayer 516 comprise polyurethane adhesives. In certain embodiments, thebase layer 508 can provide polarizing properties by incorporating one ormore dichroic dyes, iodine, or other suitable dyes into a polyvinylalcohol-type film having a thickness ranging from about 20 μm to about120 μm, or ranging from about 30 μm to about 50 μm. Examples of apolyvinyl alcohol-type film are a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film, apolyvinylformal film, a polyvinylacetal film and a saponified(ethylene/vinyl acetate) copolymer film. In some embodiments, thepolarizing properties of the wafer can be provided by a nano-wire gridwhich filters light through plasmon reflection. In certain embodiments,the polarizing wafer can be coated with a first coating 518. In someembodiments, the polarizing wafer in certain embodiments can be coatedwith a second coating 520.

In some embodiments, the PVA film of the polarizing wafer can be coatedwith polyurethane or other suitable adhesives. In certain embodiments,the adhesives can incorporate one or more chroma enhancement dyes. As anexample, in certain embodiments the polyurethane adhesive of at leastthe first or second bonding layer 514 or 516 includes a blue chromaenhancement dye. In certain embodiments, at least the first or secondbonding layer 514 or 516 includes blue and yellow chroma enhancementdyes. In certain embodiments, at least the first or second bonding layer514 or 516 includes blue, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes. Incertain embodiments, at least the first or second bonding layer 514 or516 includes the blue, green, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes.

Example techniques for preparing a polarizing film incorporating one ormore chroma enhancement dyes will now be described. The example willrefer to PVA film for purposes of illustration, but other types ofpolarizing films can also be used. In certain embodiments, the PVA filmis immersed in an aqueous solution of the dichroic substance at roomtemperature to about 50° C. to adsorb a dichroic substance on the film.In some embodiments, one or more chroma enhancement dyes is incorporatedinto the solution. Then, the film is stretched at room temperature toabout 80° C. to about 2.5 to about 8 times in one direction in water inwhich an additive such as a metal ion or boric acid is dissolved tothereby effect the adsorption and orientation. The film is then takenfrom the solution, and while it is maintained under tension, it iswashed with water and dried, then heat-treated at about 110° C. toobtain a polarizing PVA film.

In some embodiments, the PVA film of the polarizing wafer canincorporate one or more chroma enhancement dyes. In some embodiments,the PVA base layer 508 includes a blue chroma enhancement dye. Incertain embodiments, the PVA base layer 508 includes blue and yellowchroma enhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, the PVA base layer 508includes blue, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes. In certainembodiments, the PVA base layer 508 includes blue, yellow, green, andred chroma enhancement dyes.

In some embodiments the PVA film 508 includes one or more chromaenhancement dyes and at least one of the polyurethane adhesive layers514 or 516 includes one or more chroma enhancement dyes. For example, incertain embodiments a blue chroma enhancement dye can be incorporatedinto at least one of the polyurethane adhesive layers 514 or 516 andgreen, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes can be incorporated intothe PVA film 508. As another example, in certain embodiments one or moreblue and yellow chroma enhancement dyes can be incorporated into atleast one of the polyurethane adhesive layers 514 or 516 and one or moregreen and red chroma enhancement dyes can be incorporated into the PVAfilm 508.

In some embodiments the optical filter is partially incorporated intothe lens body 504 and partially incorporated into the polarizing wafer506. For example, in certain embodiments the lens body 504 canincorporate a green chroma enhancement dye and at least one of thepolyurethane adhesive layers 514 or 516 can incorporate blue, yellow,and red chroma enhancement dyes. As another example, in certainembodiments the lens body 504 can incorporate one or more green andyellow chroma enhancement dyes and at least one of the polyurethaneadhesive layers 514 or 516 can incorporate one or more violet, blue, andred chroma enhancement dyes.

Some embodiments provide a method of making a lens 502 configured toprovide chroma enhancement in one or more portions of the visiblespectrum. First, the base layer 508 is prepared. Next, the laminate 506is prepared. Finally, the lens 502 is made by attaching the laminate 506to the lens body 504.

It is to be understood that properties in addition to chromaenhancement, such as polarization, photochromism, tint, color, hardness,abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance, decor, and indicia can beincorporated in the base layer 508. Any of the polymeric layers 510, 512or the lens coatings 518, 520 can impart durability characteristics,such as hardness, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance, to thelens 502 and to the outside surface 522 of the lens.

In some embodiments, after the base layer 508 is prepared, the laminate506 can be made by bonding the first polymeric layer 510 and, ifdesired, the second polymeric layer 512 to the base layer 508 with afirst adhesive as the first bonding layer 514 and a second adhesive asthe second bonding layer 516, respectively. Any adhesive-basedlamination technique, such as rolling to apply suitable pressure, can beused to laminate the polymeric layers 510, 512, to the base layer 508.The first lens coating 518, if included, can be applied to the firstpolymeric layer 510 either before or after lamination of the firstpolymeric layer 510 to the base layer 508. Similarly, if the secondpolymeric layer 512 is included, the second lens coating 520, ifincluded, can be applied to the second polymeric layer 512 either beforeor after lamination of the second polymeric layer 512 to the base layer508.

In certain embodiments, when the optical filter is at least partiallyincorporated into the first or second lens coating 518, 520 instead ofthe base layer 508, the laminate 506 can be prepared by applying thecoating 518 onto the first polymeric layer 510 using any suitableprocedure, such as spraying, brushing, or powder application. Examplesof materials that are suitable for forming the coating include thosematerials that are suitable for providing properties such as hardness,abrasion resistance, and/or chemical resistance, to the laminate 506.Some examples of suitable materials for the coating include hard acryliccoatings and hard polysiloxane compounds.

In certain embodiments that incorporate the coating 518, the coating 518can be applied directly onto the first polymeric layer 510. In certainembodiments where the optical filter is at least partially incorporatedinto the coating and not incorporated in the base layer 508, the coating518 can be used to form the outside surface 522 of the lens 502.Furthermore, the coating 518 can be selected to provide the outsidesurface 522 with desirable properties such as hardness, abrasionresistance, and/or chemical resistance.

In some embodiments, when the laminate 506 takes the form of the wafer(not shown), the laminate 506 can be prepared by laminating the secondpolymeric layer 512 to the first polymeric layer 510 with a firstadhesive as the first bonding layer 514 or with a second adhesive as thesecond bonding layer 516. Any adhesive-based lamination technique can beused to laminate the polymeric layers 510, 512, together. In certainembodiments where the laminate 506 takes the form of the wafer, the lenscoatings 518, 520 are included, and the lens coatings 518, 520 can beapplied to the first polymeric layer 510 and the second polymeric layer512, respectively, either before or after lamination of the polymericlayers 510, 512. In certain embodiments where the laminate 506 takes theform of the wafer, the second polymeric layer 512 is not included, andthe second lens coating 520 can be applied to the first polymeric layer510 using any coating application technique.

In some embodiments, the lens body 504 and the laminate 506 can becombined to make the lens 502 using a technique such as, for example,laminate bonding, injection molding, compression molding, orinjection-compression molding (e.g., coining). No matter the method usedto join the lens body 504 and laminate 506, the laminate 506 should beconfigured to the size and pattern the laminate 506 will have whenincluded in the lens 502. This can be accomplished using any suitabletechnique. In certain embodiments the laminate 506 can be pre-shapedbefore being incorporated into the lens 502 or, in some embodiments, thelaminate 506 can be shaped while being incorporated into the lens 502.

The laminate 506 can be pre-shaped using any suitable laminate shapingprocess. In some embodiments, a suitable process entails thermoforming.In some embodiments, a suitable process entails heating the laminate 506to a suitable temperature. Simultaneous with or subsequent to theheating, positive pressure is applied to the laminate 506 using asuitable device to shape the laminate 506 and match the shape of thesurface of the lens body 504. Once the laminate 506 is appropriatelyshaped, the laminate 506 is cooled to room temperature and the positivepressure is released.

The lens 502 can be of any desired shape. For example, the lens 502 canhave 1 axis of curvature or 2 axes of curvature, the lens can becylindrical, parabolic, spherical, flat, or elliptical, or any othershape such as a meniscus or catenoid. The lens 502 can also becorrective or non-corrective.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the first or second bondinglayers 514 or 516 includes a blue chroma enhancement dye and the lensbody 504 includes green, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes. Incertain embodiments, at least one of the first or second bonding layers514 or 516 includes blue and yellow chroma enhancement dyes and the lensbody 504 includes green and red chroma enhancement dyes. In certainembodiments, at least one of the first or second bonding layers 514 or516 includes blue and red chroma enhancement dyes and the lens body 504includes green and yellow chroma enhancement dyes. In certainembodiments, at least one of the first or second bonding layers 514 or516 includes violet, blue, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes andthe lens body 504 includes a green chroma enhancement dye.

In some embodiments, at least one of the first or second polymericlayers 510 or 512 includes blue chroma enhancement dye and the lens body504 includes green, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes. In certainembodiments, at least one of the first or second polymeric layers 510 or512 includes blue and yellow chroma enhancement dyes and the lens body504 includes green and red chroma enhancement dyes. In certainembodiments, at least one of the first or second polymeric layers 510 or512 includes blue and red chroma enhancement dyes and the lens body 504includes green and yellow chroma enhancement dyes. In certainembodiments, at least one of the first or second polymeric layers 510 or512 includes blue, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes and the lensbody 504 includes green chroma enhancement dye.

In some embodiments, the base layer 508 includes blue chroma enhancementdye, and the lens body 504 includes green, yellow, and red dyes. Incertain embodiments, the base layer 508 includes blue and yellow chromaenhancement dyes, and the lens body 504 includes green and red chromaenhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, the base layer 508 includesblue and red chroma enhancement dyes, and the lens body 504 includesgreen and yellow chroma enhancement dyes. In certain embodiments, thebase layer 508 includes blue, yellow, and red chroma enhancement dyes,and the lens body 504 includes green chroma enhancement dye.

In some embodiments, a method for joining the lens body 504 and thelaminate 506 to make the lens 502 includes using a molding machine.Referring to FIGS. 54 and 55, to mold a lens body 504 with a laminate506 to form a lens 502, the laminate 506 is placed in the mold cavity610 with the outside surface 522 facing the interior wall of the moldhalf 612. In certain embodiments, the laminate 506 is pre-formed to adesired curvature by punching the laminate against a heated mold beforethe laminate 506 is inserted into the mold cavity 610. In someembodiments, the laminate 506 can be formed to a desired curvaturewithin the mold cavity 610.

Once the laminate 506 has been placed into the mold cavity 610, the twomold halves 612 and 614 close and molten resin material 606 is injectedthrough the runner 602 and gate 604 into the mold cavity 610 toback-mold on the inside surface 524 of the laminate 506. In someembodiments, the inside surface 524 is a concave surface. The combinedaction of high temperature from the molten resin and high pressure fromthe injection screw can conform the laminate 506 to the surface of theinterior wall of the mold half, and bonds the laminate and the injectedresin material together at an interface 608 between the laminate 506 andthe resin material 606. After the resin melt is hardened, the desiredlens is obtained having an integrated laminate which at least partiallyincorporates an optical filter.

After being removed from the machine 600, each lens 502 can be coatedwith a suitable coating, such as an acrylic or a polysiloxane coatingcomposition, to provide a hard surface on the lens 502. Coating can beaccomplished using techniques such as dipping, spraying, orspin-coating. As already noted, if the lens 502 is finished afterapplication of the coating, the coating can be applied to the outsidesurface 522 and the rear surface 526 of the lens 502. If the lens 502 issemi-finished, the coating can be applied to the outside surface 522 ofthe lens 502. In certain circumstances, the coating on the rear surface526 can be damaged or removed during further processing of thesemi-finished lens. In certain embodiments, the coating can be appliedto more than one surface of the semi-finished lens, including theoutside surface 522 and the rear surface 526 to simplify or reduce thecost of manufacturing the semi-finished lens.

A characterization of the thermal stability of an example blue chromaenhancement dye, Exciton ABS 473, is presented in FIG. 56. The dye ismixed into an example HFD copolymer resin, Sabic Lexan HFD 40 melt flowindex, and the resin mixture is used to prepare three injection moldedlens bodies. A different molding temperature is used for each of thethree lens bodies: 390° F., 420° F., and 550° F. After the lens bodiesare cured, the absorbance profile of each of the lens bodies is measuredusing a spectrophotometer for wavelengths ranging from 400 nm to 700 nm.For a lens body that is molded at 390° F. the absorbance at 473 nm is0.150, for a lens body that is molded at 420° F., the absorbance at 473nm is 0.128, and for a lens body that is molded at 550° F. theabsorbance at 473 nm is 0.086. The peak absorbance decreases by about15% when the molding temperature increases from 390° F. to 420° F., andthe peak absorbance decreases by about 43% when the molding temperatureincreases from 390° F. to 550° F.

As discussed herein, organic dyes used in certain optical filtersdisclosed herein can degrade or decompose when exposed to hightemperatures, including, for example, temperatures that are typical ofcertain injection molding processes. When a dye degrades or decomposes,the spectral profile of a dye changes. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 56, the primary absorbance peak of Exciton ABS 473 dye falls whenthe dye is exposed to temperatures above about 390° F. In someembodiments, a lens is formed without exposing one or more chromaenhancement dyes in a lens element to temperatures that significantlydegrade their functionality in an optical filter. A significantdegradation includes, for example, an amount of degradation that reducesthe level of chroma enhancement below a threshold limit. As explainedherein, the level of chroma enhancement can be expressed as a ratiobetween the chroma of a filtered visual stimulus and the chroma of asubstantially unfiltered visual stimulus.

In certain embodiments, a method of forming a lens includes forming alaminate or wafer incorporating one or more chroma enhancement dyes. Thelaminate or wafer is placed in the mold during the injection moldingprocess, as described herein, wherein the one or more chroma enhancementdyes loaded into the laminate are not subjected to temperaturessufficiently high to significantly degrade their optical performanceproperties during the mold process.

In certain embodiments, the method of forming a lens includes loadingone or more chroma enhancement dyes into a laminate. The laminate isplaced in the mold during the injection molding process, as describedherein, wherein the one or more chroma enhancement dyes have thermalproperties sufficient to withstand the temperatures they are exposed toduring the molding process such that their optical performanceproperties do not significantly degrade.

In certain embodiments, the method of forming a lens includes loadingone or more chroma enhancement dyes into a thermoplastic resin. Thethermoplastic resin is injected into a mold to form a lens body, asdescribed herein, wherein the one or more chroma enhancement dyes arenot subjected to temperatures sufficiently high to significantly degradetheir optical performance properties during the mold process.

In certain embodiments, the method of forming a lens includes loadingone or more chroma enhancement dyes into a thermoplastic resin. Thethermoplastic resin is injected into a mold to form a lens body, asdescribed herein, wherein the one or more chroma enhancement dyes havethermal properties sufficient to withstand the temperatures they areexposed to during the molding process such that their opticalperformance properties do not significantly degrade.

In particular, certain embodiments include using a copolymer resin whichrequires lower temperatures, has higher ductility, and/or is lessviscous than other thermoplastic resins. Examples of copolymer resinsthat may satisfy one or more of these criteria include high flow, highductility (HFD) resins available from SABIC Innovative Plastics ofPittsfield, Mass. Examples of HFD copolymer resins include Lexan ResinHFD1014, HFD1034, HFD1212, HFD1232, HFD1413, HFD1433, HFD1711, HFD1731,HFD1810, HFD1830, and HFD1910. In some embodiments, a resin having thedesired ductility, viscosity, and thermal characteristics includes oneor more chroma enhancement dyes with thermal durability sufficient toendure high temperatures. The resin impregnated with the one or morechroma enhancement dyes can then used to form the lens body by aninjection molding process as described herein. The one or more chromaenhancement dyes loaded into the resin have similar spectral propertiesto the dyes described herein but have higher temperature stability suchthat there is less degradation when exposed to sufficiently hightemperatures that would degrade other organic dyes. In some embodimentswhere a resin having the desired ductility, viscosity, and thermalcharacteristics is includes one or more chroma enhancement dyes withthermal durability sufficient to endure high temperatures, the one ormore chroma enhancement dyes do not significantly degrade when exposedto the temperatures necessary to form the lens body during injectionmolding according to embodiments described herein.

In some embodiments, one or more advantages can be realized in at leastsome circumstances when a lens function, such as, for example, chromaenhancement, is added to a lens body by a lamination process. Forexample, functional elements such as optical filters, minor elements,anti-fog layers, light polarizers, and photochromic layers can beincorporated into the lens 502 without using processes to coat theoutside surface 522 of the lens. Coating processes sometimes incorporatesteps that can substantially degrade or impair certain functional lenselements or layers. Certain coating processes create surfaces that arenot entirely smooth or uniform. Thus, undesirable and unpredictableoptical effects that would otherwise be expected to occur in the lens502, if the outside surface 522 were coated, are reduced, minimized, oreliminated altogether when the lens 502 is manufactured according tocertain techniques described herein.

In some embodiments, the lens 502 can be finished, as opposed tosemi-finished, with the lens body 504 being contoured to modify thefocal power of the lens 502. In some embodiments, the lens 502 can besemi-finished so that the lens body 502 is capable of being machined, atsome time following manufacture, to modify the focal power of the lens502.

In some embodiments, the laminate 506 can be attached to any surface ofa new or existing lens (not shown) using any suitable technique, such asadhesive attachment or laminate bonding. In this way, functionalproperties such as optical filters, minor elements, anti-fog layers,light polarizers, and photochromic layers can be incorporated intoexisting lenses that, as originally manufactured, lack such properties.For example, desirable properties such as chroma enhancement can beimparted to existing lenses, instead of discarding the existing lensesand manufacturing new lenses that include the desirable properties. Insome embodiments, a suitable solvent can be applied to remove thelaminate 506 from the existing lens so that a laminate with differentchroma enhancement characteristics can be applied to the existing lens.In certain embodiments, the laminate 506 can be removed by applicationof heat or separation force. At least some such embodiments facilitatechanging the chroma enhancing properties of the existing lens when a newchroma enhancement filter is desired.

Some embodiments provide eyewear with chroma enhancement and methods formanufacturing eyewear with chroma enhancement using an injection moldingprocess. In some embodiments, chroma enhancement eyewear includes one ormore chroma enhancement dyes, as disclosed herein. In certainembodiments, a lens is injection molded using a process that permitssome or all chroma enhancement dyes incorporated into a lens towithstand the molding process without substantially degrading ordecomposing. Such a process can include using a molding material thathas relatively low viscosity and high ductility. When such moldingmaterials are used, the molding temperature of the injection moldingprocess can be substantially lowered when compared to typicalthermoplastic resins used in manufacturing lenses for eyewear. In someembodiments, the molding material can produce a lens that has highimpact strength. Examples of suitable molding materials include certainhigh flow, high ductility (HFD) resins. In certain embodiments, theinjection temperature of the resin is less than or equal to atemperature at which the chromophores of one or more chroma enhancementdyes begin to degrade or decompose.

In some embodiments, the thermoplastic resin is prepared before moldingusing a process that includes mixing one or more chroma enhancement dyesinto the resin. The loadings of chroma enhancement dyes in the resin canbe selected to generate a desired chroma enhancing filter in thefinished lens. The loadings can depend on, for example, dye strength,concentration and solubility; lens body thickness; finished lensthickness and geometry; desired filter properties; aestheticconsiderations; another factor; or a combination of factors. In certainembodiments, the temperature of the lens body is maintained below athreshold level while the lens body undergoes molding, curing, andcooling processes. The threshold level can be less than or equal to atemperature at which dyes loaded into the thermoset resin begin todegrade or decompose. For example, the threshold can be less than orequal to about 420° F., less than or equal to about 400° F., less thanor equal to about 390° F., less than or equal to about 350° F., or lessthan or equal to another suitable threshold.

Certain embodiments provide a method of injection molding a lens thatincludes molding the lens in two or more injection steps. For example,certain embodiments, a first lens portion incorporating one or morechroma enhancement dyes is molded by injecting a first thermoplasticresin mixed with the one or more chroma enhancement dyes into a firstmold having a first mold chamber volume. The thickness of the first lensportion can be selected to achieve any desired optical filtering effect.A suitable thickness can be, for example, less than or equal to about 1mm. The first lens portion can be removed from the first mold and placedinto a second mold having a larger mold chamber volume than the firstmold. A second lens portion can be molded by injecting a secondthermoplastic resin around the first lens portion. The first lensportion, on its own, may not be hard enough or strong enough to havesuitable properties of a lens for eyewear. The second thermoplasticresin can be configured to produce a mechanically strong and durableinjection molded lens.

In certain embodiments, a first lens portion incorporating one or morechroma enhancement dyes is molded by injecting a first thermoplasticresin mixed with the one or more chroma enhancement dyes into a moldhaving a first mold chamber volume. The thickness of the first lensportion can be selected to achieve any desired optical filtering effect.A suitable thickness can be, for example, less than or equal to about 1mm. The mold can then be expanded by moving one or more portions of themold until it reaches a second mold chamber volume substantially largerthan the first mold chamber volume. A second lens portion can be moldedby injecting a second thermoplastic resin around the first lens portion.The first lens portion, on its own, may not be hard enough or strongenough to have suitable properties of a lens for eyewear. The secondthermoplastic resin can be configured to produce a mechanically strongand durable injection molded lens.

In some embodiments, a lens is manufactured using one or more chromaenhancement dyes that are able to withstand high molding temperaturewithout substantial degradation or decomposition. In such embodiments,the lens can be produced from a thermoplastic resin that is configuredto produce a high-strength and durable injection molded lens.

Certain embodiments provide a lens manufactured using one or more of thetechniques described herein and incorporating one or more functionallens elements. For example, a lens can include an injection molded lensbody and a polarizer. The polarizer can be combined with the injectionmolded lens body by positioning the polarizer, such as, for example, apolarizing wafer as described herein, into a mold and injectingthermoplastic resin into the mold. The polarizing wafer can include oneor more insulating polymeric layers configured to insulate a functionalbase layer from high molding temperatures. Other functional lenselements, such as, for example, at least a portion of a chroma enhancingoptical filter, a photochromic material, an interference stack, ananti-static material, a hydrophobic material, an anti-fog layer, acoating, an anti-scratch layer, another functional element, or acombination of elements can be incorporated into a lens with aninjection-molded portion in a similar fashion.

Some embodiments provide eyewear with chroma enhancement and methods formanufacturing eyewear with chroma enhancement using a dyeing process.The dyeing process can be used to incorporate one or more functional oraesthetic features into the lens. In some embodiments, chromaenhancement eyewear includes one or more chroma enhancement dyes, asdisclosed herein. In certain embodiments, a lens body is manufacturedusing an injection molding process, an extrusion process, a compressionmolding process, a casting process, another suitable process, or acombination of processes. The lens can include one or more lens bodiesand can include one or more additional lens elements, such as, forexample, one or more laminates. The one or more lens bodies and one ormore laminates can undergo pretreatment before being bonded to oneanother. Pretreatment of a lens element can include coating, annealing,stretching, shaping, cutting, grinding, polishing, etching, curing,irradiating, doping, another process, or a combination of processes.

Before or after one or more pretreatment processes, one or more lenselements or combinations of lens elements can be dyed. Any suitabledyeing process can be use. In some embodiments, one or more dyes aredissolved into a solvent to produce a dyeing solution. The one or moredyes can include one or more chroma enhancement dyes. The one or moredyes are applied to the lens element or the combination of lenselements. For example, the dyes can be applied to the element by dippingthe element in a dyeing solution, spraying a dyeing solution on theelement, or placing the element in a dyeing chamber and directing theone or more dyes into the chamber.

In embodiments where the lens element or combination of lens elements isdyed in a dyeing chamber, a process fluid can be used to carry the oneor more dyes into the chamber. The one or more dyes can be dissolvedinto the process fluid. In certain embodiments, the process fluid is asupercritical fluid, such as, for example, supercritical CO₂. Theprocess fluid with dissolved dye is carried into the dyeing chamber,where it enters the workpiece via diffusion. In some embodiments, a lensincludes a chroma enhancement filter, at least a portion of which isincorporated into the lens using supercritical CO₂ dyeing. Othersuitable process fluids can also be used. In some embodiments,supercritical CO₂ fluid is used to deposit one or more nonpolar chromaenhancement dyes onto one or more lens elements or combinations of lenselements.

Some embodiments provide eyewear with chroma enhancement and methods formanufacturing eyewear with chroma enhancement using a casting process.In some embodiments, chroma enhancement eyewear includes one or morechroma enhancement dyes, as disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, alens is cast using a process that permits some or all chroma enhancementdyes incorporated into a lens to withstand the casting process withoutsubstantially degrading or decomposing. One or more lens bodies of alens can be cast using a thermoset resin that is configured to producelens bodies with high strength and durability. In certain embodiments,the casting and curing temperatures of the thermoset resin is less thanor equal to a temperature at which the chromophores of one or morechroma enhancement dyes begin to degrade or decompose.

In some embodiments, the thermoset resin is prepared before castingusing a process that includes mixing one or more chroma enhancement dyesinto the resin. The loadings of chroma enhancement dyes in the resin canbe selected to generate a desired chroma enhancing filter in thefinished lens. The loadings can depend on, for example, dye strength,concentration and solubility; lens body thickness; finished lensthickness and geometry; desired filter properties; aestheticconsiderations; another factor; or a combination of factors. In certainembodiments, the temperature of the lens body is maintained below athreshold level while the lens body undergoes casting, curing, andcooling processes. The threshold level can be less than or equal to atemperature at which dyes loaded into the thermoset resin begin todegrade or decompose. For example, the threshold can be less than orequal to about 420° F., less than or equal to about 400° F., less thanor equal to about 390° F., less than or equal to about 350° F., or lessthan or equal to another suitable threshold.

Certain embodiments provide a lens manufactured using one or more of thetechniques described herein and incorporating one or more functionallens elements. For example, a lens can include a cast lens body and apolarizer. The polarizer can be combined with the cast lens body bypositioning a polarizer, such as, for example, a PVA polarizing film,into a mold and flowing thermoset resin into the mold. In someembodiments, the polarizer does not include insulating polymeric layersconfigured to insulate the polarizer from high molding temperatures whenthe lens body is made using a casting process. Other functional lenselements, such as, for example, at least a portion of a chroma enhancingoptical filter, a photochromic material, an interference stack, ananti-static material, a hydrophobic material, an anti-fog layer, acoating, an anti-scratch layer, another functional element, or acombination of elements can be incorporated into a lens with a lensportion made by casting.

Embodiments disclosed herein include eyewear that has one or morelaminates applied to an outer surface of a lens body. In someembodiments, the lens body is constructed from a substantially rigidmaterial having a curved shape. The lens body can have any desiredcurvature, including, for example, cylindrical, spherical or toroidal. Alaminate can include a substantially flexible substrate and one or morefunctional layers or coatings applied to the substrate. In addition, oneor more functional layers or coatings can be applied directly to thelens body. In certain embodiments, a bonding layer bonds a laminate to aconvex and/or concave surface of the lens body. Examples of functionallayers or coatings that can be applied to a laminate includeanti-reflection coatings, interference stacks, hard coatings, flashmirrors, anti-static coatings, anti-fog coatings, other functionallayers, or a combination of functional layers. At least a portion of achroma-enhancing filter can be incorporated into a laminate and/or otherfunctional layers of eyewear.

Referring to FIGS. 57, 57A, 58, and 58A, there are illustratedperspective views of some embodiments of eyewear 700 having first andsecond lenses 702 a and 702 b, frame 704, and earstems 706 a and 706 b.The embodiments shown in these figures illustrate one or more laminatesaffixed to one or more lens bodies incorporated into an example eyeglassdesign. It should be noted that the thicknesses and relative thicknessesof the various lens elements are not drawn to scale but are drawn tomore easily illustrate certain aspects of the eyewear 700. The eyewear700 can be of any type, including general-purpose eyewear,special-purpose eyewear, sunglasses, driving glasses, sporting glasses,goggles, indoor eyewear, outdoor eyewear, vision-correcting eyewear,contrast-enhancing eyewear, chroma-enhancing eyewear, color-enhancingeyewear, color-altering eyewear, eyewear designed for another purpose,or eyewear designed for a combination of purposes. Lenses and frames ofmany other shapes and configurations may be used, as will becomeapparent based upon the disclosure herein.

FIGS. 57, 57A, 58, and 58A illustrate eyewear 700 having lenses 702 a,702 b. The lenses 702 a and 702 b can be corrective lenses ornon-corrective lenses and can be made of any of a variety of opticalmaterials including glasses or plastics such as acrylics orpolycarbonates. The lenses can have various shapes. For example, thelenses 702 a, 702 b can be flat, have 1 axis of curvature, 2 axes ofcurvature, or more than 2 axes of curvature, the lenses 702 a, 702 b canbe cylindrical, parabolic, spherical, flat, or elliptical, or any othershape such as a meniscus or catenoid. When worn, the lenses 702 a, 702 bcan extend across the wearer's normal straight ahead line of sight, andcan extend substantially across the wearer's peripheral zones of vision.As used herein, the wearer's normal line of sight shall refer to a lineprojecting straight ahead of the wearer's eye, with substantially noangular deviation in either the vertical or horizontal planes. In someembodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b extend across a portion of thewearer's normal straight ahead line of sight.

The outside surface of lenses 702 a or 702 b can conform to a shapehaving a smooth, continuous surface having a constant horizontal radius(sphere or cylinder) or progressive curve (ellipse, toroid or ovoid) orother aspheric shape in either the horizontal or vertical planes. Thegeometric shape of other embodiments can be generally cylindrical,having curvature in one axis and no curvature in a second axis. Thelenses 702 a, 702 b can have a curvature in one or more dimensions. Forexample, the lenses 702 a, 702 b can be curved along a horizontal axis.As another example, lenses 702 a, 702 b can be characterized in ahorizontal plane by a generally arcuate shape, extending from a medialedge throughout at least a portion of the wearer's range of vision to alateral edge. In some embodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b aresubstantially linear (not curved) along a vertical axis. In someembodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b have a first radius of curvature inone region, a second radius of curvature in a second region, andtransition sites disposed on either side of the first and secondregions. The transition sites can be a coincidence point along thelenses 702 a, 702 b where the radius of curvature of the lenses 702 a,702 b transitions from the first to the second radius of curvature, andvice versa. In some embodiments, lenses 702 a, 702 b can have a thirdradius of curvature in a parallel direction, a perpendicular direction,or some other direction. In some embodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 bcan lie on a common circle. The right and left lenses in a high-wrapeyeglass can be canted such that the medial edge of each lens will falloutside of the common circle and the lateral edges will fall inside ofthe common circle. Providing curvature in the lenses 702 a, 702 b canresult in various advantageous optical qualities for the wearer,including reducing the prismatic shift of light rays passing through thelenses 702 a, 702 b, and providing an optical correction.

A variety of lens configurations in both horizontal and vertical planesare possible. Thus, for example, either the outer or the inner or bothsurfaces of the lens 702 a or 702 b of some embodiments can generallyconform to a spherical shape or to a right circular cylinder.Alternatively either the outer or the inner or both surfaces of the lensmay conform to a frusto-conical shape, a toroid, an elliptic cylinder,an ellipsoid, an ellipsoid of revolution, other asphere or any of anumber of other three dimensional shapes. Regardless of the particularvertical or horizontal curvature of one surface, however, the othersurface may be chosen such as to minimize one or more of power, prism,and astigmatism of the lens in the mounted and as-worn orientation.

The lenses 702 a, 702 b can be linear (not curved) along a verticalplane (e.g., cylindrical or frusto-conical lens geometry). In someembodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b can be aligned substantiallyparallel with the vertical axis such that the line of sight issubstantially normal to the anterior surface and the posterior surfaceof the lenses 702 a, 702 b. In some embodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 bare angled downward such that a line normal to the lens is offset fromthe straight ahead normal line of sight by an angle ϕ. The angle ϕ ofoffset can be greater than about 0° and/or less than about 30°, orgreater than about 70° and/or less than about 20°, or about 15°,although other angles ϕ outside of these ranges may also be used.Various cylindrically shaped lenses may be used. The anterior surfaceand/or the posterior surface of the lenses 702 a, 702 b can conform tothe surface of a right circular cylinder such that the radius ofcurvature along the horizontal axis is substantially uniform. Anelliptical cylinder can be used to provide lenses that have non-uniformcurvature in the horizontal direction. For example, a lens may be morecurved near its lateral edge than its medial edge. In some embodiments,an oblique (non-right) cylinder can be used, for example, to provide alens that is angled in the vertical direction.

In some embodiments, the eyewear 700 incorporates canted lenses 702 a,702 b mounted in a position rotated laterally relative to conventionalcentrally oriented dual lens mountings. A canted lens may be conceivedas having an orientation, relative to the wearer's head, which would beachieved by starting with conventional dual lens eyewear havingcentrally oriented lenses and bending the frame inwardly at the templesto wrap around the side of the head. When the eyewear 700 is worn, alateral edge of the lens wraps significantly around and comes in closeproximity to the wearer's temple to provide significant lateral eyecoverage.

A degree of wrap may be desirable for aesthetic styling reasons, forlateral protection of the eyes from flying debris, or for interceptionof peripheral light. Wrap may be attained by utilizing lenses of tighthorizontal curvature (high base), such as cylindrical or sphericallenses, and/or by mounting each lens in a position which is cantedlaterally and rearwardly relative to centrally oriented dual lenses.Similarly, a high degree of rake or vertical tilting may be desirablefor aesthetic reasons and for intercepting light, wind, dust or otherdebris from below the wearer's eyes. In general, “rake” will beunderstood to describe the condition of a lens, in the as-wornorientation, for which the normal line of sight strikes a verticaltangent to the lens 702 a or 702 b at a non-perpendicular angle.

The lenses 702 a, 702 b can be provided with anterior and posteriorsurfaces and a thickness therebetween, which can be variable along thehorizontal direction, vertical direction, or combination of directions.In some embodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b can have a varyingthickness along the horizontal or vertical axis, or along some otherdirection. In some embodiments, the thickness of the lenses 702 a, 702 btapers smoothly, though not necessarily linearly, from a maximumthickness proximate a medial edge to a relatively lesser thickness at alateral edge. The lenses 702 a, 702 b can have a tapering thicknessalong the horizontal axis and can be decentered for optical correction.In some embodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b can have a thicknessconfigured to provide an optical correction. For example, the thicknessof the lenses 702 a, 702 b can taper from a thickest point at a centralpoint of the lenses 702 a, 702 b approaching lateral segments of thelenses 702 a, 702 b. In some embodiments, the average thickness of thelenses 702 a, 702 b in the lateral segments can be less than the averagethickness of the lenses 702 a, 702 b in the central zone. In someembodiments, the thickness of the lenses 702 a, 702 b in at least onepoint in the central zone can be greater than the thickness of thelenses 702 a, 702 b at any point within at least one of the lateralsegments.

In some embodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b can be finished, as opposedto semi-finished, with the lenses 702 a, 702 b being contoured to modifythe focal power. In some embodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b can besemi-finished so that the lenses 702 a, 702 b can be capable of beingmachined, at some time following manufacture, to modify their focalpower. In some embodiments, the lenses 702 a, 702 b can have opticalpower and can be prescription lenses configured to correct fornear-sighted or far-sighted vision. The lenses 702 a, 702 b can havecylindrical characteristics to correct for astigmatism.

The eyewear 700 can include a mounting frame 704 configured to supportthe lenses 702 a, 702 b. The mounting frame 704 can include orbitalsthat partially or completely surround the lenses 702 a, 702 b. Referringto FIGS. 57, 57A, 58, and 58A, it should be noted that the particularmounting frame 704 is not essential to the embodiments disclosed herein.The frame 704 can be of varying configurations and designs, and theillustrated embodiments shown in FIGS. 57, 57A, 58, and 58A are providedas examples only. As illustrated, the frame 704 may include a top frameportion and a pair of ear stems 706 a, 706 b that are pivotablyconnected to opposing ends of the top frame portion. Further, the lenses702 a, 702 b may be mounted to the frame 704 with an upper edge of thelens 702 a or 702 b extending along or within a lens groove and beingsecured to the frame 704. For example, the upper edge of the lens 702 aor 702 b can be formed in a pattern, such as a jagged or non-linearedge, and apertures or other shapes around which the frame 704 can beinjection molded or fastened in order to secure the lens 702 a or 702 bto the frame 704. Further, the lenses 702 a, 702 b can be removablyattachable to the frame 704 by means of a slot with inter-fittingprojections or other attachment structure formed in the lenses 702 a,702 b and/or the frame 704.

It is also contemplated that the lenses 702 a, 702 b can be securedalong a lower edge of the frame 704. Various other configurations canalso be utilized. Such configurations can include the direct attachmentof the ear stems 706 a, 706 b to the lenses 702 a, 702 b without anyframe, or other configurations that can reduce the overall weight, size,or profile of the eyeglasses. In addition, various materials can beutilized in the manufacture of the frame 704, such as metals,composites, or relatively rigid, molded thermoplastic materials whichare well known in the art, and which can be transparent or available ina variety of colors. Indeed, the mounting frame 704 can be fabricatedaccording to various configurations and designs as desired. In someembodiments, the frame 704 is configured to retain a unitary lens thatis placed in front of both eyes when the eyewear is worn. Goggles canalso be provided that include a unitary lens that is placed in front ofboth eyes when the goggles are worn.

The eyewear 700 can include a pair of earstems 706 a, 706 b pivotablyattached to the frame 704. In some embodiments, the earstems 706 a, 706b attach directly to the lenses 702 a, 702 b. The earstems 706 a, 706 bcan be configured to support the eyewear 700 when worn by a user. Forexample, the earstems 706 a, 706 b can be configured to rest on the earsof the user. In some embodiments, the eyewear 700 includes a flexibleband used to secure the eyewear 700 in front of the user's eyes in placeof earstems 706 a, 706 b.

The lenses 702 a, 702 b include a lens body 708 and a laminate 710. Thelaminate 710 can be substantially permanently affixed to the lens body708, or the laminate 710 can be configured to be separable from the lensbody 708. In some embodiments, the laminate 710 is configured to beremovable such that a user, manufacturer, or retailer can apply, remove,or change the laminate 710 after manufacture of the eyewear 700. In thisway, a variety of functional elements can be introduced into the eyewear700 increasing the possible utility of the eyewear 700 because one pairof glasses or goggles can be altered to provide functionality suitablefor different occasions.

Each of the laminate 710 and lens body 708 can include one or morelayers that provide functional aspects to the lens. For example, thelens body 708 and laminate 710 can include a polarizing layer, one ormore adhesive layers, a photochromic layer, electrochromic material, ahard coat, a flash mirror, a liquid-containing layer, an antireflectioncoating, a minor coating, an interference stack, chroma enhancing dyes,an index-matching layer, a scratch resistant coating, a hydrophobiccoating, an anti-static coating, chroma enhancement dyes, colorenhancement elements, trichoic filters, glass layers, hybridglass-plastic layers, anti-reflective coatings, other lens elements, ora combination of lens components. If the lens 702 includes aphotochromic layer, the photochromic material can include a neutraldensity photochromic or any other suitable photochromic. At least someof the lens components and/or materials can be selected such that theyhave a substantially neutral visible light spectral profile. In someembodiments, the visible light spectral profiles can cooperate toachieve any desired lens chromaticity, a chroma-enhancing effect, colorenhancement, another goal, or any combination of goals. The polarizinglayer, the photochromic layer, anti-reflection layer, hydrophobiccoating, hard coat, and/or other functional layers can be incorporatedinto the lens body 708, the laminate 710, or both. In some embodiments,the lenses 702 a, 702 b include one or more lens coatings on the lensbody 708, the laminate 710, or both.

In some embodiments, one or more advantages can be realized in at leastsome circumstances when a lens function, such as, for example, ananti-reflection film, is added to a lens body by a lamination process.For example, functional elements such as optical filters, minorelements, anti-fog layers, interference stacks, light polarizers, andphotochromic layers can be incorporated into the lens 702 a or 702 bwithout using processes to coat the surface of the lens. As describedherein, coating or deposition processes sometimes incorporate steps thatcan substantially degrade or impair certain functional lens elements orlayers. Certain coating processes create surfaces that are not entirelysmooth or uniform. Thus, undesirable and unpredictable optical effectsthat would otherwise be expected to occur in the lens 702 a or 702 b ifthe surface were coated, are reduced, minimized, or eliminatedaltogether when the lenses 702 a, 702 b are manufactured according totechniques described herein.

In some embodiments, a lens 702 a or 702 b includes an injection molded,polymeric lens body 708 having a concave surface and a convex surface.The lens body 708 can be formed of polycarbonate (or PC), allyl diglycolcarbonate monomer (being sold under the brand name CR-39®), glass,nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate(or PET), biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate polyester film(or BoPET, with one such polyester film sold under the brand nameMYLAR®), acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), a polymericmaterial, a co-polymer, a doped material, any other suitable material,or any combination of materials. The lens body 708 can be rigid andother layers of the lens can conform to the shape of the lens body 708such that the lens body 708 dictates the shape of the lens 702 a or 702b. The lens body 708 can be symmetrical across a vertical axis ofsymmetry, symmetrical across a horizontal axis of symmetry, symmetricalacross another axis, or asymmetrical. In some embodiments, the front andback surfaces of the lens body 708 can conform to the surfaces ofrespective cylinders that have a common center point and differentradii. In some embodiments, the lens body can have a front and backsurfaces that conform to the surfaces of respective cylinders that havecenter points offset from each other, such that the thickness of thelens body 708 tapers from a thicker central portion to thinner endportions. The surfaces of the lens body 708 can conform to other shapes,as discussed herein, such as a sphere, toroid, ellipsoid, asphere,plano, frusto-conical, and the like. In some embodiments, athermoforming process can be used to conform the laminate 710 to thelens body 708 having a shape described herein.

The lens body 708 can be contoured during initial formation to have anoptical magnification characteristic that modifies the focal power ofthe lens 702 a or 702 b. In some embodiments, the lens body 708 can bemachined after initial formation to modify the focal power of the lens702 a or 702 b. The lens body 708 can provide a substantial amount ofthe optical power and magnification characteristics to the lens 702 a or702 b. In some embodiments, the lens body 708 provides the majority ofthe optical power and magnification characteristics. Apportioning themajority of optical power and magnification to the lens body 708 canpermit selection of lens body 708 materials and lens body 708 formationtechniques that provide improved lens 702 a, 702 b optical power andmagnification characteristics, without adversely affecting selection oflaminate 710 materials and formation techniques.

The lens body 708 can be injection molded, although other processes canbe used to form the shape of the lens blank body, such as thermoformingor machining. In some embodiments, the lens body 708 is injection moldedand includes a relatively rigid and optically acceptable material suchas polycarbonate. The curvature of the lens body 708 would thus beincorporated into a molded lens blank. A lens blank can include thedesired curvature and taper in its as-molded condition. One or two ormore lens bodies of the desired shape may then be cut from the opticallyappropriate portion of the lens blank as is understood in the art. Insome embodiments, the frame 704 is provided with a slot or otherattachment structure that cooperates with the molded and cut shape ofthe lens body 708 and laminate 710 to minimize deviation from, and evenimprove retention of its as-molded shape. In some embodiments, the lensbody 708 can be stamped or cut from flat sheet stock and then bent intothe curved configuration using a process such as thermoforming. Thiscurved configuration can then be maintained by the use of a relativelyrigid, curved frame 704, or by heating the curved sheet to retain itscurved configuration.

The laminate 710 can be attached to the lens body 708, for example,through a thermally-cured adhesive layer, a UV-cured adhesive layer,electrostatic adhesion, pressure sensitive adhesives, or any combinationof these. Examples of bonding technologies that may be suitable forattaching the laminate 710 to the lens body 708 include thermal welding,fusing, pressure sensitive adhesives, polyurethane adhesives,electrostatic attraction, thermoforming, other types of adhesives,materials curable by ultraviolet light, thermally curable materials,radiation-curable materials, other bonding methods, other bondingmaterials, and combinations of methods and/or materials. In someembodiments, any technique suitable for affixing the laminate 710 to thelens body 708 can be used. Some embodiments of a lens 702 a or 702 bincludes a lens body 708 and a laminate 710 that are bonded together. Insome embodiments, the laminate 710 and the lens body 708 can beintegrally connected to each other and can be adhesively bondedtogether.

The laminate 710 can include a single layer or multiple layers. Thelaminate 710 can have one or more layers in single or multiple layerform that can be coated with a hard coat or a primer. For example, thelaminate 710 can be a single layer of polycarbonate, PET, polyethylene,acrylic, nylon, polyurethane, polyimide, BoPET, another film material,or a combination of materials. As another example, the laminate caninclude multiple layers of film, where each film layer includespolycarbonate, PET, polyethylene, acrylic, nylon, polyurethane,polyimide, BoPET, another film material, or a combination of materials.

The laminate 710 can include several layers that serve various functionswithin the lenses 702 a, 702 b. In some embodiments, one or more layersin the laminate 710 can provide optical properties to the lenses 702 a,702 b such as optical filtering, polarization, photochromism,electrochromism, partial reflection of incoming visible light, chromaenhancement, color enhancement, color alteration, or any combination ofthese. In some embodiments, one or more layers within the laminate 710can provide mechanical protection to the lenses 702 a, 702 b or otherlayers within the laminate 710, reduce stresses within the laminate 710,or improve bonding or adhesion among the layers in the laminate 710and/or between the laminate 710 and the lens body 708. In someembodiments, the laminate 710 can include layers that provide additionalfunctionality to the lenses 702 a, 702 b such as, for example,anti-reflection functionality, anti-static functionality, anti-fogfunctionality, scratch resistance, mechanical durability, hydrophobicfunctionality, reflective functionality, darkening functionality,aesthetic functionality including tinting, or any combination of these.

As an example, the laminate 710 can include one or more layers that canserve to thermally insulate the laminate 710 such that it can be used inhigh temperature molding processes without subjecting the certainfunctional layers to temperatures sufficient to significantly degradetheir optical performance. In some embodiments, the laminate 710 canserve as a thermally isolating element or vehicle that can incorporatefunctional elements that may be degraded if subjected to hightemperature manufacturing processes. As such, the laminate 710 can beused to incorporate these types of functional elements into lenses thatotherwise are formed and/or manufactured using high temperatureprocesses. As an example, the laminate 710 can include a substrate withone or more functional coatings deposited thereon. The functionalcoatings can include elements that would be degraded or whoseperformance would be altered if subjected to high temperatures, such ascertain chroma enhancement dyes. The laminate 710 could then be bondedto the lens body 708 using a UV-cured adhesive, thus thermally isolatingthe laminate 710 and the included functional layers from the hightemperature processes associated with the manufacture of the lens body708.

As an example of incorporating functionality into a lens 702, thelaminate 710 or the lens body 708 can include layers or elements thatserve to tint the lens 702. Tinting can be added to a lens element indifferent ways. In some embodiments, color can be deposited on the lenselement using a vapor or liquid source. The color can coat the lenselement or it can penetrate into the element. In some embodiments, colorcan be added to a material used to make the lens element, such as addingpowdered color or plastic pellets to material that is extruded,injection molded, or otherwise molded into a lens element. In someembodiments where liquids are used, the color can be added by a dipprocess. In such embodiments, a gradient tint or bi-gradient tint can beachieved through the dip process. In certain embodiments, a liquidcoloring technique can be used to tint one or more lens elements. Forexample, liquid dye can be added to the polymer during an injectionmolding process.

By applying a tint to the laminate 710 or another layer that becomes apart of the laminate 710, a substantial increase in manufacturingcapacity can be realized because of the nature of manufacturing alaminates. Another advantageous feature can be that undesired colortransfer, e.g. to lens cloths of packaging, can be reduced or eliminatedby not positioning the tinted layer on an exterior surface of the lens,e.g. putting the tinted layer between protective layers. Moreover,tinting can be applied to layers which do not experience hightemperature processes during manufacture which can protect chromophoresthat may have poor heat stability. In some embodiments, tint is includedin a layer, such as a functional layer or substrate layer. For example,a solution incorporating chromophores having desired chromaticproperties can be applied to a functional hard coat layer that isporous. As a result, the hard coat layer can be impregnated with thechromophores. As another example, powdered dyes can be included withplastic pellets during the manufacture of the plastic. The compatibledyes can form a substantially uniform mixture with the plastic to form atinted plastic material. In some embodiments, a tinted layer can beconstructed such that chromophores can be a principal component of thelayer or a smaller fraction of the tinted layer, according to thedesired chromatic properties of the layer. The thickness of the layercan be adjusted to achieve a desired color profile of the lens.

Some embodiments provide for eyewear 700 having electrochromicfunctionality incorporated into the laminate 710. The eyewear 700 caninclude a power source, such as a battery, an electrical contact, and aconductor that conveys a voltage to an electrode in the electrochromiclaminate. The eyewear 700 can include a user interface elementintegrated into the frame 704, the earstems 706, the lens 702, or anycombination of these. The user interface element can be configured toallow the user to control activation and deactivation of theelectrochromic layer. The user interface element can be a switch,button, toggle, slide, touch-interface element, knob, other mechanicalfeature, or other electrical feature. For example, the user interfaceelement can include a touch-sensitive region where if a user contactssaid region the electrochromic element changes state from dark totransparent. In some embodiments, a lens includes both photochromic andelectrochromic layers, integrated into a single functional layer orimplemented in separate functional layers.

An advantage of incorporating functional elements into the laminate 710and/or lens body 708 is that it provides the ability to separatelymanufacture each functional lens element. Thus, elements can be made inparallel and assembled to make a lens 702 having desired functionalqualities, thereby increasing manufacturing capabilities and/or loweringcosts. In addition, multiple functional properties can be imparted to alens using the techniques and lens elements described herein, providingflexibility and greater capacity for creating lenses 702 with varyingcharacteristics.

The eyewear 700 can incorporate one or more lens bodies and one or morelaminates in various configurations. Each lens body and each laminatecan be configured to provide a variety of functions. Thus, amanufacturer, retailer, user, or the like can select functional layersin the lens bodies and laminates and/or the configuration of the lensbodies and laminates to provide desired functionality. Sampleconfigurations of laminates and lens bodies are illustrated in FIGS. 57,57A, 58, and 58A. Other variations and permutations of laminates andlens bodies are contemplated by the present disclosure as well.

FIGS. 57 and 57A illustrate an example embodiment of eyewear 700 havinga laminate 710 attached to the convex side of a lens body 708. On theconvex side of the lens body 708, the laminate can be configured toprovide functionality suitable for that position. For example, it may bedesirable that eyewear 700 have a chroma enhancement filter on theexterior side of the lenses 702 a, 702 b. This can be accomplished byattaching a laminate 710 that has a chroma enhancement filter at leastpartially incorporated therein. Where the laminate 710 is removable,positioning the laminate on the convex side of the lenses 702 a, 702 bmay allow for easier application and removal of the laminate 710.

The laminate 710 positioned on the convex surface of the lens body 708can provide the eyewear 700 with desirable attributes. For example, thelaminate 710 can include a polarizing layer, anti-reflection coating, aphotochromic layer, flash minor, hard coat, chroma enhancement dyes,color enhancement elements, an electrochromic layer, contrastenhancement elements, a trichoic filter, a glass layer, a hybridglass-plastic layer, a liquid-containing layer, an refractive indexmatching layer, or any combination of these. By incorporating these andother functionalities into the laminate 710, the lens body 708 can havea coating applied or functional layer deposited using vapor depositionwithout substantially altering the desirable functional attributes ofthe laminate 710. For example, the lens body 708 can be immersion or dipcoated with a hydrophobic layer. The laminate 710 can have ananti-reflection coating applied and the laminate 710 can be joined tothe lens body 708 after the application of the hydrophobic layer suchthat the resulting lens includes both the hydrophobic functionality andthe anti-reflection functionality without substantially altering thefunctionality of either coating. In another example, the laminate 710can include a flash minor and one or more hard coats on either side ofthe laminate 710. The lens body 708 can include an anti-fog coating onthe concave side of the lens body 708 and one or more hard coats oneither side of the lens body 708. The flash mirror can be incorporatedinto the laminate 710 using vapor deposition techniques. The anti-fogcoating can be incorporated into the lens body 708 using immersionprocess techniques. The laminate 710 can then be attached to the lensbody 708 by way of an adhesion layer such that the flash mirror side ofthe laminate 710 forms the exterior side of the finished lens and theanti-fog coating of the lens body 708 forms the interior side of thefinished lens. In some embodiments, the lens 702 can include a heatedlens element that can provide anti-fog functionality. For example, anelectrically conductive transparent film of indium tin oxide-basedmaterial, zinc oxide-based material, or another suitable conductivematerial with substantial transparency can be included in a lenselement, and a voltage can be applied across it such that heat isgenerated. As another example, the lens element can includenon-transparent filaments that heat when a voltage is applied acrossthem, providing an anti-fog functionality.

FIGS. 58 and 58A illustrate an example embodiment of eyewear 700 havinglaminates 710 a, 710 b, 710 c attached to lens bodies 708 a, 708 b. Thelaminate 710 b, sandwiched between lens bodies 708 a and 708 b, can beused to incorporate functionality into unfinished lenses 702 a, 702 b.For example, laminate 710 b can include functional aspects that aredesirable to include in a finished lens, such as polarization,photochromism, electrochromism, color enhancement, contrast enhancement,tinting, or chroma enhancement. The lens bodies 708 a, 708 b can beattached to either side of the laminate 710 b to form an unfinishedlens. The lens can be then shaped, machined, coated, grinded, and/orprocessed without substantially altering the functional aspects of thelaminate 710 b. Laminates 710 a and 710 c can be attached afterprocessing the lens bodies 708 a, 708 b to create a lens with thedesired qualities.

Chroma-enhancing eyewear can include one or more lenses having anydesired number of laminates, coatings, and other lens elements. One ormore of the lens elements can incorporate functional layers that impartdesired functionality to the eyewear, including, for example aninterference stack, a flash mirror, photochromic layer(s),electrochromic layer(s), anti-reflective coating, anti-static coating,liquid containing layer, polarizing elements, chroma enhancing dyes,color enhancing elements, contrast enhancing elements, trichoic filters,or any combination of these. The functional layers can includesub-layers, which can individually or in combination incorporate one ormore functions into the complete lens.

In some embodiments, a functional layer is configured to providevariable light attenuation. For example, a functional layer can includephotochromic compositions that darken in bright light and fade in lowerlight environments. Such compositions can include, for example, butwithout limitation, silver, copper, and cadmium halides. Photochromiccompounds for lenses are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,312,811,5,658,502, 4,537,612, each of which are hereby expressly incorporated inits entirety herein by reference. A lens 500 incorporating one or morephotochromic functional layers would thus provide relatively littlelight attenuation when used in a lower light environment, but wouldautomatically provide increased light attenuation when used in brightlight, such as when worn outdoors. Thus, in some embodiments, the lenscan be suitable for use in both indoor and outdoor environments. Incertain embodiments, the photochromic compositions can selectively alterthe chroma enhancing effect of a lens. For example, eyewear can beconfigured to transition from a neutral gray or clear chromaticity to anactivity-specific non-neutral chromaticity upon substantial exposure tosunlight.

In some embodiments, chroma enhancing eyewear incorporates anelectrochromic functional layer, which can include a dichroic dyeguest-host device configured to provide variable light attenuation. Forexample, a functional layer can include spaced substrates coated with aconducting layer, an alignment layer, and preferably a passivationlayer. Disposed between the substrates is a guest-host solution whichincludes a host material and a light-absorbing dichroic dye guest. Apower circuit can be supplied to the functional layer through a batteryin the host eyewear. The power circuit provides a supply of electricalpower to the conducting layers. Adjustment of the power supply altersthe orientation of the host material which in turn alters theorientation of the dichroic dye. Light is absorbed by the dichroic dye,depending upon its orientation, and thus provides variable lightattenuation, that can be manually adjusted by the wearer. Such adichroic dye guest-host device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,778,the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein byreference and made a part of this specification.

In some embodiments, an electrochromic functional layer is produced bydepositing a composition containing a cross-linkable polymer onto asuitable support followed by in situ crosslinking. For example, apolymerizable composition can be applied onto a glass plate coated witha layer of WO₃ and a tin oxide conductive sublayer, and photopolymerizedby UV irradiation to obtain a membrane that is optically transparent inthe visible range and adherent to the support. The membrane can then beassembled with a counterelectrode formed on a glass plate bearing alayer of hydrogenated iridium oxide H_(x)IrO₂ and a tin oxide sublayer.The polymerizable composition can be formed from the lithium salt oftrifluoro-methanesulfonyl(1-acryloyl-2,2,2-tri-fluoroethanesulfonyl)imide,poly(theylene glycol) dimethacrylate, silica particles, and xanthone. Insome embodiments, an electrochromic layer is formed by twoelectrochromic layers separated by a film of ion-conducting material.Each electrochromic layer can be borne by a substrate coated with aconductive oxide, an indium tin oxide-based material, a zinc oxide-basedmaterial, or another type of conductive layer. The ion-conductingmaterial forms an ion-conducting polymer electrolyte and is formed by aproton-conducting polymer, for example a2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid homopolymer. The polymer filmcan be produced by depositing onto one of the electrodes a liquidreaction mixture containing the polymer precursor dissolved in a liquidsolvent, for example a mixture of water and NMP. In some embodiments, anelectrochromic layer includes an electrode and a counterelectrodeseparated by a solid polymer electrolyte, the electrode being formed bya transparent substrate bearing an electronically conductive film coatedwith a film of a cathode active material with electrochromic properties,the counterelectrode being formed by a transparent substrate bearing anelectronically conductive film coated with a film of an anode activematerial with electrochromic properties, the electrolyte being formed byan ion-conducting material including a salt dissolved in a solvatingsolid polymer. The electrochromic layer can be characterized in that theelectrolyte membrane is intercalated in the form of a composition of lowviscosity free of volatile liquid solvent and including a polymer or apolymer precursor and a salt.

In some embodiments, a functional layer incorporates a filter thatenhances chroma in a wavelength-conversion window, a background-window,a spectral-width window, another chroma enhancement window (CEW), or anycombination of CEWs. The chroma-enhancing filter generally changes thecolorfulness of a scene viewed through a lens compared to a scene viewedthrough a lens with the same luminous transmittance but a differentspectral transmittance profile. An optical filter can be configured toenhance the chroma profile of a scene when the scene is viewed through alens that incorporates the optical filter. The optical filter can beconfigured to increase or decrease chroma in one or more chromaenhancement windows in order to achieve any desired effect. Thechroma-enhancing optical filter can be configured to preferentiallytransmit or attenuate light in any desired chroma enhancement windows.Any suitable process can be used to determine the desired chromaenhancement windows. For example, the colors predominantly reflected oremitted in a selected environment can be measured, and a filter can beadapted to provide chroma enhancement in one or more spectral regionscorresponding to the colors that are predominantly reflected or emitted.In some embodiments, the optical filter is partially incorporated into alens body. In certain embodiments, the optical filter can be partiallyincorporated into a laminate. A functional layer can include one or morechroma enhancement dyes configured to attenuate visible light passingthrough the lens in one or more spectral bands. In some embodiments, oneor more portions of the optical filter can be incorporated into thefunctional layers, into the lens body substrate, into an interfacelayer, into an adhesive layer, into another lens element, or into acombination of elements. For example, a functional layer can incorporateone or more chroma enhancement dyes that increase the chroma of a scene,compared to the chroma of a substantially unfiltered scene.

Some embodiments of chroma-enhancing eyewear incorporate an opticalfilter having one or more filter elements that manage or attenuate lightpassing through the filter in a color channel located between chromaenhancement windows. Such filter elements can tailor the color channelin such a way that the hues of certain colors are increased. Filterelements that accomplish this effect can be organic dyes or othersuitable visible light filtering structures (e.g., dielectric stacks,reflective filters, etc.).

FIG. 59A is an absorptance profile of an example dye, Exciton ABS 515,that tailors the color channel in the 490 nm-560 nm wavelength band.FIG. 59B shows an absorbance profile of the same dye. As a logarithmicquantity, absorbance can ease identification of absorptance peaks, peaklocations, peak bandwidths, and center wavelengths, particularly whenabsorptance peaks have very high attenuation factors. Filter elementswith peak locations outside a chroma enhancement window can be used totailor the overall lens color. The lens color can selected to correspondto an activity-specific setting. For example, the lens color can beselected to match a color of interest (e.g., the color of an object ofinterest or the color of an activity-specific background color). Inshooting lens embodiments, a brown lens color can be selected so thatthe lens color is similar to a cardboard target. The lens color can alsobe selected to match a complement to the color of interest. Such filterelements can also be used to achieve a neutral color lens, a desiredwhite point, or any other desired color balancing effect.

FIG. 60A is an absorptance profile of a lens having a substantiallyneutral-color optical filter incorporating chroma enhancement dyes and acolor channel tailoring dye. FIG. 60B is an absorbance profile of theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 60A. The filter characterized by theprofiles shown in FIGS. 60A and 60B includes a blue chroma enhancementdye, a yellow chroma enhancement dye, a red chroma enhancement dye, anda green color band tailoring dye. The filter provides chroma enhancementover a broad range of the visible spectrum. To achieve a filter havingthe general absorbance profile shown in FIG. 60B, dyes can be mixed intoa batch of polycarbonate resin. If the mixture includes 1 lb. ofpolycarbonate resin, the following approximate loadings of chromaenhancement dyes can be used: 17 mg of blue chroma enhancement dye, 21mg of yellow chroma enhancement dye, 25 mg of red chroma enhancementdye, and 35 mg of the green color band tailoring dye having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 59A. A lens incorporating the opticalfilter could have a luminous transmittance of less than or equal toabout 14%, as measured with respect to CIE Illuminant C. In someembodiments, chroma enhancing eyewear incorporates a filter with greaterthan or equal to the loading of each dye specified in this paragraph. Insome embodiments, chroma enhancing eyewear incorporates a filter withgreater than or equal to the loading of at least one of the dyesspecified in this paragraph or any combination of the dyes specified inthis paragraph.

Rebalancing the mixture of dyes in a chroma enhancement filter canresult in a lens with a different overall color. For example, an opticalfilter similar to the one shown in FIGS. 60A and 60B can be tailored tobe used in low light, dusk, or range shooting conditions by eliminatingthe red chroma enhancement dye and reducing the loading of yellow chromaenhancement dye. The resulting filter could have a brown overall color,thereby helping a wearer of eyewear incorporating the filter to havebetter dynamic visual acuity when viewing cardboard, dirt, etc.

A darker lens can be produced by generally increasing the loading ofdyes in an optical filter. FIG. 61A is an absorptance profile of a lenshaving a neutral-color optical filter incorporating the same dyes as thefilter shown in FIG. 60A Like the filter shown in FIG. 60A, the filterillustrated in FIG. 61A provides chroma enhancement over a broad rangeof the visible spectrum. FIG. 61B is an absorbance profile of theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 61A. To achieve a filter having thegeneral absorbance profile shown in FIG. 61B, dyes can be mixed into abatch of polycarbonate resin. If the mixture includes 1 lb. ofpolycarbonate resin, the following approximate loadings of chromaenhancement dyes can be used: 24 mg of blue chroma enhancement dye, 27mg of yellow chroma enhancement dye, 36 mg of red chroma enhancementdye, and 44 mg of the green color band tailoring dye having theabsorptance profile shown in FIG. 59A. A lens incorporating the opticalfilter could have a luminous transmittance of less than or equal toabout 9%, as measured with respect to CIE Illuminant C.

If chroma enhancing eyewear incorporates a polarizer in the finishedlens, the optical filter can be selected to account for the additionallight attenuation and spectral profile of a polarizing filter. In someembodiments, the additional attenuation produced by a polarizing filtercan be accounted for by generally reducing the loading of dyes in achroma enhancement filter. FIG. 62A is an absorptance profile of aneutral-color optical filter incorporating the same dyes as the filtershown in FIG. 60A at lower loadings. Like the filter shown in FIG. 60A,the filter illustrated in FIG. 62A provides chroma enhancement over abroad range of the visible spectrum. FIG. 62B is an absorbance profilecorresponding to the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 62A. While thevalues of the absorbance are different from the values shown in FIG.60B, the absorbance profile of FIG. 62B generally has the same contoursas the absorbance profile of the darker filter of FIG. 60B. FIG. 63A isan absorptance profile of a lens incorporating the optical filter ofFIG. 62A and a polarizer. A polarizer causes the luminous transmittanceof the lens to be lower than the luminous transmittance of its chromaenhancing filter alone. FIG. 63B is an absorbance profile correspondingto the absorptance profile shown in FIG. 63A. The polarizer can changethe contours of the absorbance profile when it is combined with thechroma enhancement filter. The chroma enhancement filter can be selectedto account for the spectral features of a polarizing filter such thatthe complete lens has a desired lens color, chroma enhancement effect,and other desired spectral characteristics.

It is contemplated that the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics of any embodiments discussed herein can be combined inany suitable manner in one or more separate embodiments not expresslyillustrated or described. For example, it is understood that an opticalfilter can include any suitable combination of light attenuationfeatures and that a combination of light-attenuating lens elements cancombine to control the chroma of an image viewed through a lens. In manycases, structures that are described or illustrated as unitary orcontiguous can be separated while still performing the function(s) ofthe unitary structure. In many instances, structures that are describedor illustrated as separate can be joined or combined while stillperforming the function(s) of the separated structures. It is furtherunderstood that the optical filters disclosed herein can be used in atleast some lens configurations and/or optical systems besides thoseexplicitly disclosed herein.

It should be appreciated that in the above description of embodiments,various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment,figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the variousinventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require morefeatures than are expressly recited in that claim. Moreover, anycomponents, features, or steps illustrated and/or described in aparticular embodiment herein can be applied to or used with any otherembodiment(s). Thus, it is intended that the scope of the inventionsherein disclosed should not be limited by the particular embodimentsdescribed above, but should be determined by a fair reading of theclaims that follow.

1-37. (canceled)
 38. An eyewear comprising an optical filter configuredto attenuate visible light in a plurality of spectral bands, theplurality of spectral bands comprising an absorbance peak having amaximum absorbance with a spectral bandwidth, and an absorptance peakhaving a maximum absorptance, wherein: the maximum absorbance of theabsorbance peak is located at a first spectral range from about 560 nmto about 600 nm; the spectral bandwidth, equal to the full width of theabsorbance peak at 80% of the maximum absorbance of the absorbance peak,associated with the first absorbance peak is less than or equal to 35nm; the maximum absorptance of the absorptance peak is located at asecond spectral range from about 465 nm to about 535 nm; and the maximumabsorptance of the absorptance peak is from about 90% to about 100%. 39.The eyewear of claim 38, wherein the spectral bandwidth of theabsorbance peak is less than or equal to 30 nm.
 40. The eyewear of claim38, wherein the spectral bandwidth of the absorbance peak is less thanor equal to 20 nm.
 41. The eyewear of claim 38, wherein each of theplurality of spectral bands further comprises an attenuation factorobtained by dividing an integrated absorbance peak area within thespectral bandwidth by the spectral bandwidth of the absorbance peak,wherein the attenuation factor of the absorbance peak is greater than orequal to about 0.5 and less than about
 1. 42. The eyewear of claim 38,wherein the optical filter further comprises an other absorbance peakassociated with the absorptance peak, wherein the other absorbance peakis located at the second spectral range from about 465 nm to about 535nm.
 43. The eyewear of claim 38, wherein the optical filter isconfigured to increase the average chroma value of uniform intensitylight stimuli having a bandwidth of 30 nm transmitted through theoptical filter at least partially within the first spectral range fromabout 560 nm to about 600 nm as compared to a neutral filter thatuniformly attenuates the same average percentage of light as the opticalfilter within the spectral range.
 44. The eyewear of claim 38, whereinthe optical filter comprises a lens body and an optical interferencestack disposed over the lens body.
 45. The eyewear of claim 38, whereinthe optical filter comprises a lens body and an anti-reflection layerdisposed over the lens body.
 46. The eyewear of claim 38, wherein theoptical filter comprises one or more organic dyes.
 47. The eyewear ofclaim 38, wherein the optical filter comprises one or more rare earthoxides.
 48. An eyewear comprising an optical filter configured toattenuate visible light in a plurality of spectral bands, each of theplurality of spectral bands comprising an absorptance peak having amaximum absorptance, wherein: the optical filter comprises a firstabsorptance peak; the maximum absorptance of the first absorptance peakis located at a wavelength from about 465 nm to about 535 nm; and aluminous transmittance associated with the optical filter is from about1% to about 20%.
 49. The eyewear of claim 48, wherein the luminoustransmittance associated with the optical filter is from about 5% toabout 18%.
 50. The eyewear of claim 48, wherein the first absorptionpeak is associated with a spectral bandwidth equal to full width of thefirst absorption peak at the maximum absorptance plus 2% absorptance,wherein the spectral bandwidth is greater than about 10 nm.
 51. Theeyewear of claim 48, wherein the optical filter further comprises asecond absorption peak located at a wavelength from about 560 nm toabout 600 nm.
 52. The eyewear of claim 48, wherein the optical filterfurther comprises a second absorption peak located at a wavelength fromabout 630 nm to about 670 nm.
 53. The eyewear of claim 48, wherein theoptical filter comprises one or more organic dyes.
 54. An eyewearcomprising an optical filter, configured to attenuate visible light in aplurality of spectral bands, and a functional layer disposed over theoptical filter, each of the plurality of spectral bands comprising anabsorptance peak having a maximum absorptance, wherein: the spectralbandwidth is equal to the full width of the absorptance peak at 80% ofthe maximum absorptance of the absorptance peak; the optical filtercomprises a first absorptance peak and a second absorptance peak; themaximum absorptance of the first absorptance peak is located at awavelength from about 440 nm to about 510 nm; the spectral bandwidth ofthe first absorptance peak is less than or equal to about 50 nm; themaximum absorptance of the second absorptance peak is located at awavelength from about 560 nm to about 600 nm; and an absolute differencebetween the maximum of the first absorptance peak and the maximum of thesecond absorptance peak is from about 0% to about 20%.
 55. The eyewearof claim 54, wherein the functional layer comprises an anti-reflectioncoating layer, an index-matching layer, a hard coat layer, a polarizinglayer, a photochromic layer, or an electrochromic layer.
 56. The eyewearof claim 54, wherein the optical filter has a CIE chromaticity x valuewithin a range from about 0.3 to about 0.38.
 57. The eyewear of claim54, wherein the optical filter has a CIE chromaticity y value within arange from about 0.31 to about 0.39.